Anthony Albanese will formally announce a royal commission on Thursday afternoon, with former High Court judge Virginia Bell set to lead the examination of the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack.
After weeks of resisting pressure to hold a Commonwealth-level inquiry into anti-Semitism and the December 14 shooting that killed 15 people, the Prime Minister this week softened his stance, saying he was talking to NSW about how best to support its planned royal commission.
Experts flagged a joint Commonwealth-NSW royal commission would be the only way to avoid jurisdictional blocks that could hamper an inquiry.
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Mr Albanese is now expected to appoint Ms Bell to lead the royal commission, in a move that will further raise the ire of the Jewish community.
Other names canvassed were former Federal Court chief justice James Allsop or incumbent Federal Court judge Michael Lee.
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.
Mr Albanese’s preference for Ms Bell was met with fierce backlash late on Wednesday from former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who said leaders of the Jewish community had directly told the Prime Minister they held serious concerns about the appointment.
“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,” he wrote on social media.
Confidential discussions were held over the past couple of days between the Commonwealth and NSW governments and Jewish community leaders about options for calling a royal commission into the deadly shooting.
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.
However, the fact that it took weeks to shift position had Labor insiders accusing the Prime Minister and his team of lacking any political strategy.
One said the late conversion was the worst of both options – neither taking control on day one nor sticking out the criticism – and handed Labor’s opponents control of what would happen next.
“The outcome will be that the government is to blame, that protesters here are to blame and that any criticism of Israel, any protest in support of Palestinians is anti-Semitism,” the source said.
Calls for a Federal royal commission have come from Jewish leaders and the community, current and former politicians, business leaders and Australian sporting stars.
A new poll published by News Corp on Thursday morning showed 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.
