Families of victims of the deadly Bondi Beach attack in Sydney have called on Australia’s federal government to take stronger action against rising antisemitism and investigate security failures linked to the country’s worst mass shooting in three decades.
In an open letter released on Monday, families of those killed and wounded in the Dec 14 attack urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to establish a federal royal commission to probe the surge in antisemitism since the Israel-Hamas war began in 2023 and the shortcomings of security agencies.
Two gunmen allegedly opened fire at a Hanukkah festival on Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and wounding at least 40 others.
Seventeen families said a royal commission, Australia’s most powerful form of public inquiry, was needed to determine why warning signs were ignored and how extremist hatred was allowed to grow unchecked.
“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 letter said.
Albanese, however, continued to reject calls for a federal royal commission, arguing that such an inquiry would take years to deliver findings. Instead, he announced a review led by former senior bureaucrat Dennis Richardson to examine legal and procedural failures linked to the attack, which authorities say was inspired by the Islamic State group. The review is expected to report in April next year.
“My heart breaks for the families of the victims of the Bondi terrorist atrocity,” Albanese told reporters, adding that the Richardson review was in the national interest.
He said the federal government would support a royal commission announced by the New South Wales state government, but the families argued that a state-level inquiry would be insufficient.
“The rise of antisemitism in Australia goes far beyond one state jurisdiction. It is a national crisis that demands a powerful response,” the letter said.
Meanwhile, New Year’s Eve celebrations at Bondi Beach have been canceled, with organizers saying tickets for an annual music festival would be refunded. Security will be tightened across Sydney, where more than one million people are expected to attend celebrations around the harbour.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said discussions were underway with the federal government about possible military involvement to strengthen security in Sydney.
Police said one of the alleged attackers was shot dead at the scene, while his son survived and now faces multiple charges, including 15 counts of murder.
As public debate continues, Albanese has sought to highlight acts of bravery during the attack, including the actions of a bystander who disarmed one of the gunmen before being injured. His intervention has drawn widespread praise and international donations, while a mural in Melbourne has commemorated what many have described as an act embodying Australian values.