Bondi royal commission: Virginia Bell to lead Albanese’s Federal inquiry, Frydenberg outraged

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to call a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack imminently, after weeks of resisting mounting pressure, but his preferred pick for commissioner is already causing outrage.

Naveed and Sajid Akram are accused of opening fire at Bondi Beach on December 14 and dropping pipe bombs in an alleged anti-Semitic terror attack that resulted in 15 innocent lives being lost.

In the wake of the horrific attack that targeted Jewish Australians, questions have been raised over multiple failures by the Albanese Government, including inaction on anti-Semitism, security and intelligence failures and inaction on tackling radical Islamic extremism.

Confidential discussions between the Commonwealth and NSW governments and Jewish community leaders are continuing about options for calling a royal commission into the deadly shooting, with expectations growing for a joint inquiry to be announced within days.

Mr Albanese initially said a State inquiry was sufficient and adding a Federal one would slow things down, instead tasking former top national security boss Dennis Richardson with a four-month examination of security agencies to ensure intelligence was being shared correctly to prevent attacks and keep Australians safe.

But he softened his position earlier this week and now is understood to be talking with NSW Premier Chris Minns about creating a joint royal commission rather than the planned State-only one.

NSW would welcome Federal involvement in establishing a royal commission, but views the final decision as now being in the Prime Minister’s hands.

Calls for a Federal royal commission have come from Jewish leaders and the community, current and former politicians, business leaders and Australian sporting stars.

Discussions between Mr Albanese and his team with Jewish leaders and his trusted political inner-circle are also canvassing who would lead a royal commission.

Three names are currently in the mix according to sources and reports.

It is understood that former High Court justice Virginia Bell could lead a Federal royal commission into the Bondi massacre, with some sources suggesting she is Mr Albanese’s top preference.

Ms Bell is no stranger to royal commissions, having worked for the Wood Royal Commission examining NSW police in the 1990s. Mr Albanese previously appointed her to conduct an inquiry into former Prime Minister Scott Morrison over the multiple ministry scandal.

Other names in the mix, both favoured by Jewish community leaders, include former Federal Court chief justice James Allsop and current Federal Court judge Michael Lee.

The inclusion of Mr Albanese’s reported preference for commission, Ms Bell, was met with fierce backlash from former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

“The Prime Minister has been told directly by leaders of the Jewish community that they have serious concerns about this appointment,” he wrote on social media.

“After more than two years of unprecedented hate, harassment and violence directed towards the Jewish community, culminating in Australia’s deadliest terrorist attack at Bondi Beach it is unthinkable the Prime Minister would choose a Commissioner that did not have the total confidence of the Jewish community.

Mr Frydenberg said now was a time for national healing, suggesting selecting Ms Bell would further hurt Jewish Australians.

“Prime Minister, I appeal to you, this is the time to do the right thing and call a Commonwealth Royal Commission with the appointment of the right Commissioner whose leadership will provide the answers and solutions our country so urgently needs,” the former deputy federal Liberal leader wrote.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said a royal commission would only be sufficient if three commissioners were appointed to lead it and that the Jewish community agreed with the choices.

“I’m not sure what conversations the prime minister may be having with them, but clearly not the right ones, or he’d be calling the Commonwealth royal commission today,” she said.

Her shadow Home Affairs minister, Jonno Duniam, said the Government shouldn’t “blindly put forward a name and hope everyone agrees with it” when it came to choosing who should lead such an inquiry.

But when asked whether there was a notion that Ms Bell would not act impartially, Senator Duniam said he hadn’t suggested that.

Ms Ley said she wouldn’t comment on individuals.

Cabinet minister Murray Watt said the Government was working “actively and around the clock” on the responses to the Bondi attack.

That also includes legislation to strengthen hate speech laws, with Parliament expected to be recalled within the next fortnight, and implementing recommendations from anti-Semitism envoy Jillian Segal.

“We recognise that the calls from many in the community for a royal commission are sincere,” he said on Thursday.

A new poll published by News Corp on Thursday shows 54 per cent of voters agree or strongly agree that the Government should call a Federal royal commission.

The survey of 1608 voters conducted earlier this week also showed 19 per cent disagreed or strongly disagreed, with 27 per cent unsure.

Across party lines, the strongest support, as indicated by those who strongly agreed or agreed, was among One Nation voters (73 per cent), followed by Coalition voters (68), Greens voters (46), and Labor voters (42).

A petition on Change.org, backed by a website established by financial adviser Chris Garnaut, calling for a royal commission has more than 86,000 signatories.

Ms Ley said “millions of ordinary Australians too, (are) adding their names every day” to the royal commission calls.

Mr Albanese is also expected to recall Parliament within a fortnight to deal with tougher laws on hate speech and visa cancellations and refusals.