Australia rejects broad Royal Commission into Bondi Beach attack, orders limited review

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday rejected calls for a broad Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Bondi Beach massacre, saying a more limited review will assess whether federal agencies are capable of keeping Australians safe. The government said the review will be conducted outside the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and will not be independent. Its findings are expected to be released in April 2026, a timeline that drew criticism from Jewish groups and some lawmakers who had urged a full, independent probe. Albanese said, “Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond.”

On December 14, two gunmen opened fire at a Chanukah-by-the-Sea celebration on Bondi Beach in front of more than 1,000 spectators, killing 15 people and wounding about 40. Authorities identified the attackers as Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed, 24. The assault occurred as Chanukah celebrations were underway along the popular seaside stretch. Among the dead were a Holocaust survivor, two rabbis and a ten-year-old girl. One of the attackers was killed at the scene, and the other was later taken into custody and charged with 15 counts of murder.

The decision to pursue a limited review drew swift political reaction. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said a Royal Commission is the only way to obtain the full picture of what happened and to determine whether Australia’s institutions were adequately prepared. In Canberra, some in the Jewish community and among lawmakers pressed the government to opt for a comprehensive, independent inquiry, arguing that a narrower review could miss systemic issues that enabled the attack. Albanese, however, has defended the approach as sufficient to test and strengthen national security capabilities without the burden and scope of a Royal Commission.

The government’s stance comes amid continued scrutiny of national security practices and antisemitism in public life. The plan to conduct a limited review outside the Prime Minister’s Department signals an emphasis on evaluating current protocols, interagency coordination, and readiness rather than pursuing a formal, legally expansive inquiry with sweeping powers to compel testimony. The results, officials said, will focus on how federal agencies can better detect and respond to threats, with recommendations framed for potential policy fixes and resource needs rather than a binding set of constitutional reforms.

Australia’s gun-control framework, forged after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, remains among the world's strictest. Advocates for a Royal Commission say the Bondi Beach attack warrants a standalone, transparent inquiry into how such an event could occur and what practical changes are necessary at the federal level. Skeptics of the broader mechanism argue that a comprehensive Royal Commission could be time-consuming and politically fraught, potentially delaying actionable changes. The new plan, officials stressed, aims to deliver timely clarity on readiness while avoiding the prolonged process some opponents fear would accompany a full inquiry.

As the investigation unfolds, the government has signaled its commitment to a measured approach that prioritizes immediate improvements in interagency collaboration and rapid response capacity. Still, public scrutiny remains intense, as observers weigh the balance between rapid, targeted reforms and a thorough, independent accounting of what went wrong and how best to prevent a repeat. The Bondi Beach attack, which unfolded during the first night of Chanukah, has intensified debates about security, antisemitism, and the resilience of Australia’s multicultural society, even as authorities continue their efforts to bring those responsible to justice.