Tanya Plibersek says people right to demand Bondi accountability as calls for royal commission growKatina CurtisThe NightlyFri, 2 January 2026 2:21PMCommentsCommentsEmail Katina Curtis
Labor senior cabinet minister Tanya Plibersek says she “one hundred per cent understands” why people are calling for greater accountability about how the Bondi Beach shooting happened, as pressure grows for a Federal royal commission examining anti-Semitism.
Business, legal, national security, education and religious figures have called for a broader Commonwealth inquiry into the December 14 terror attack to run alongside a snap examination of security agencies.
Ms Plibersek, whose electorate neighbours Bondi Beach, has spent a lot of time with her local Jewish community after the deadly shooting and attended funerals for victims, including 10-year-old Matilda.
“I 100 per cent understand why people are calling for greater accountability,” she said on Friday.
“This is the worst terrorist atrocity on Australian soil in our history and, of course, people are demanding accountability for that.
“They should demand it, quite rightly, from the two shooters, the man who did this, but also it is right to ask questions about what our institutions, government, security, intelligence, what more we could have and should have done?
“What we want to do is make sure that those answers are available as quickly and as efficiently as possible.”
She anticipated inquiries would include a NSW royal commission, Dennis Richardson’s probe of security agencies, the trial of the alleged gunman, a probable coronial inquest and a NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission report, along with the two education-focused examinations that have started on anti-Semitism special envoy Jillian Segal’s recommendation.
Ms Plibersek said the Commonwealth would work “hand-in-hand” with NSW on its royal commission.
NSW Premier Chris Minns is yet to release the terms of reference for that inquiry, but he has flagged it will canvass the rise of anti-Semitism.
“I think it is really important that as a country, we examine the growth of anti-Semitism that has led to this shocking attack at Bondi and a whole range of attacks in the lead up to the… horrific events at Bondi Beach,” Ms Plibersek said.
“There is no place for anti-Semitism in Australia, and we want answers about how this attack was able to happen at Bondi Beach. Every single one of us wants that.”
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