Coalition MPs Criticize Labor and Call for Federal Royal Commission Over Bondi Beach Terror Attack
Coalition MPs Sussan Ley, Bridget McKenzie, and Julian Leeser held a press conference to allege that Labor Party decisions, including the recognition of Palestine, contributed to the Bondi Beach terror attack. They called for a federal royal commission into the incident.
Ley criticized Penny Wong for not visiting Bondi Beach or attending related vigils and funerals, accusing her of having not shed a tear over the event. McKenzie linked Wong’s absence from Hamas-related sites and Labor’s Palestine recognition to the attack, demanding a royal commission to provide answers for the Jewish community and Australians. McKenzie also asserted the root cause is Islamic extremism within suburbs and claimed that Labor’s multicultural approach has failed.
Leeser, who is Jewish, stated that the Labor government was slow to act on banning doxxing and Nazi symbols. He expressed concerns that the Jewish community cannot survive on mere government "crumbs."
In response, Penny Wong’s trip to Israel involved meetings with Israeli officials and families of hostages. During her visit, she condemned antisemitism and urged for a lowering of tensions in the national debate.
The Albanese government plans to recognize Palestine officially. NSW Premier Chris Minns advocated for federal cooperation with the state's royal commission. However, the federal government opted to order a review of federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies rather than establish a federal royal commission.
The report notes there is no evidence linking the August Palestine recognition to the Bondi IS-inspired attack carried out by Sajid and Naveen Akram. It highlights that around 150 countries have recognized Palestine and that over 60,000 people had been killed in Gaza at the time of the attack.
