We can’t unknow or unsee the events of Bondi, which will haunt this nation – and particularly the Jewish community – for years to come. But as a nation, we deserve to know what happened, including what, if any, intelligence failures occurred, no matter how uncomfortable it may make some people.
Loading
Richardson was a fine boss of spy agency ASIO and the defence department, and a former US ambassador, and he has been appointed to senior roles by both Labor and Liberal governments. However, he is also an insider when the moment arguably calls for an outsider to review what happened from the security perspective – and that’s before a proper reckoning with the growth in antisemitism in this country.
Nobody could be prepared ahead of time for an atrocity such as Bondi. The prime minister’s initial response did not meet the moment, which he is almost ready to admit privately. Though it took him most of a week, he has faced his critics and worn the raw grief of the crowd at Bondi. He has (in the language of his own Catholic faith) shown contrition, attended interfaith services, called a dozen or more meetings of the cabinet and the national security committee of cabinet, finally responded to antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal’s report, and spoken with victims and survivors. And still he resists calling a royal commission.
Historical precedents exist. Jacinda Ardern ordered a royal commission after the Christchurch massacre. Further, Albanese has advocated in the past for royal commissions, such as into robo-debt and the banking sector, and the fact the NSW Labor government has already called one suggests the correct course of action for Albanese.
The federal opposition, for its part, has been reflecting the righteous anger of the Jewish community, as Sussan Ley did this week when she thumped a lectern and ripped into Penny Wong for not having visited the Bondi site or shed a tear. The opposition’s criticisms and comments, however, haven’t always landed.
Liberal MP Andrew Hastie, a prime ministerial aspirant, posted a video on social media with the subtitle: “It’s time to reach for the deport button.” Hastie spoke in a little more detail in the video about wanting all non-citizen radical hate preachers deported and strengthening the Migration Act, but he ended on the most simplistic of notes: “It’s very simple. No.1: deport all hate preachers, and No.2, narrow the gate for entry into this country.”
Yes, we need to have these conversations about immigration and, yes, laws need to be changed. Unfortunately, migration policy isn’t simple.
Naveed Akram was born in Australia, and his father, fellow Bondi gunman Sajid Akram, had lived here since 1998, having been allowed into the country by the Howard government and having had his visa renewed under subsequent Liberal governments. There is plenty of blame to be spread around.
Loading
Ley was supposed to have announced a new “get tough” policy on immigration before Christmas but has since pressed pause because of the Bondi massacre.
When the Coalition puts forward its approach, let’s hope it does so with a little more nuance and bipartisan spirit than it has shown in recent days – not for the sake of the prime minister, but for a weary nation still reeling from 15 deadly blows on Australian soil.
James Massola is chief political commentator.
Get a weekly wrap of views that will challenge, champion and inform your own. Sign up for our Opinion newsletter.
