Families of the victims of the Bondi massacre call for royal commission

Families of eleven Jewish victims of the Bondi Beach terror attack have come together to call for Prime Minister ­Anthony Albanese to establish a royal commission into the antisemitic massacre, to understand why it happened and prevent it from occurring again.

The PM has to date rejected calls for a royal commission and has instead ordered an intelligence and law enforcement review led by former ASIO head Dennis Richardson to report to the Government by April.  Premier Chris Minns has announced a royal commission in NSW, but a federal royal commission would provide for a more thorough investigation at a national level.

The statement from the families reads, “We, the families of those killed and injured in the Bondi Beach massacre, call on the Prime Minister to immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the rapid rise of antisemitism in Australia following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, and the law enforcement, intelligence, and policy failures that led to the Bondi Beach massacre. We demand answers and solutions.

“We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes must be made to protect all Australians going forward.”

The statement continues, “As proud Australians and proud Jews, we have endured more than two and a half years of relentless attacks. Our children feel unsafe at school and university. Our homes, workplaces, sporting fields, and public spaces no longer feel secure. It is an intolerable situation that no Australian should have to endure. Announcements made so far by the federal government in response to the Bondi massacre are not nearly enough.”

The statement concludes, “You cannot bring back our loved ones. But with a well-led Commonwealth Royal Commission and strong action, you may be able to save many more.”

Calls for a royal commission have also been made by prominent Australians including former governor-­general Peter Cosgrove, ex-High Court chief justice Robert French, former AFP commissioner Mick Keelty, former intelligence chief Nick Warner and former treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

Frydenberg led the calls for a royal commission in his speech on December 17 at the Bondi memorial.  He stated on Sunday, “No one knows more painfully than them the high price Australians have paid for the government’s failure to protect the public from Islamic extremism,”
“With recent polls showing the Australian people agree with the long list of legal, national security and political leaders who have called for a royal commission, it’s now time for the Prime Minister to listen and act. The voices are too loud and too important to ignore.”

Full statement from the families:

“We, the families of those killed and injured in the Bondi Beach massacre, call on the Prime Minister to immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the rapid rise of antisemitism in Australia following Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, and the law enforcement, intelligence, and policy failures that led to the Bondi Beach massacre.
We demand answers and solutions.
We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes must be made to protect all Australians going forward.
As proud Australians and proud Jews, we have endured more than two and a half years of relentless attacks. Our children feel unsafe at school and university. Our homes, workplaces, sporting fields, and public spaces no longer feel secure. It is an intolerable situation that no Australian should have to endure.
Announcements made so far by the federal government in response to the Bondi massacre are not nearly enough.
Prime Minister, how can you not support a Royal Commission into the deadliest terrorist attack on Australian soil? Royal Commissions have been established for banks and for aged care.
We have lost parents, spouses, children, and grandparents.
Our loved ones were celebrating Chanukah at Bondi Beach, a festival of light and joy, in an iconic public space that should have been safe.
You owe us answers. You owe us accountability. And you owe Australians the truth.
Senior legal, security, and political leaders from across the country have come together in an unprecedented display of public support for a Commonwealth Royal Commission. The rise of antisemitism in Australia goes far beyond one state jurisdiction. It is a national crisis that demands a powerful national response.
In just the past few days following the Bondi attack, a Jewish family’s car was firebombed, and a man in Western Australia was arrested after posting messages of support following the Bondi attack while stockpiling weapons and in possession of Hamas and Hezbollah flags. This threat is real, and it is escalating.
The dangerous rise of antisemitism and radicalism in Australia is not going away.
We need strong action now. We need leadership now.
You cannot bring back our loved ones. But with a well-led Commonwealth Royal Commission and strong action, you may be able to save many more.

Abesidon Family
Amzalak Family
Britvan Family
Brutman Family
Goldhirsch Family
Gurman Family
Gutnick Family
Joseph Family
Kastel Family
Kleytman Family
Levitan Family
Morrison Family
Schlanger Family
Tetelroyd Family
Tretiak Family
Ulman Family
Weitzen Family”