Business Leaders and Catholic Bishops Call for Royal Commission After Bondi Attack
On 1 January 2026, over 120 business leaders and public figures signed an open letter calling for a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism, radicalism, and the Bondi beach attack. Among the signatories were former Reserve Bank of Australia governors Philip Lowe and Glenn Stevens, billionaire James Packer, and former Telstra CEO David Thodey.
The call comes amid a backdrop of rising concerns about antisemitism in Australia following the 7 October 2023 Hamas invasion of southern Israel and the subsequent Israeli bombing campaign in Gaza. The letter highlights the harassment faced by the Australian Jewish community since that time and describes the issue as a national crisis requiring a coordinated response to restore social cohesion and enhance protection.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has resisted a national royal commission, with the Labor government instead establishing a Richardson-led review focusing on intelligence and law enforcement responses. However, the New South Wales government plans to hold a state-based royal commission with cooperation from federal agencies, and the federal government has indicated its willingness to cooperate.
In addition to business leaders, religious figures have joined the call. Archbishop Timothy Costelloe and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference have advocated for a broader national inquiry into antisemitism with sufficient authority and resources, to run alongside the Richardson Review.
As part of New Year’s Eve tributes to victims of the Bondi attack, a menorah was projected onto the Sydney Harbour Bridge pylon, symbolizing solidarity with the Jewish community.
