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Government has been preparing royal commission ‘for weeks’, PM says
Albanese says the federal government has been working on the logistics of a royal commission “for weeks” and there is a working draft of the legislation ready for community members to look over.
We have worked very hard. This hasn’t been done up this morning.
He’s “hopeful” parliament will be able to begin debating the legislation prior to 26 January.
You can read the terms of reference here.
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Krishani Dhanji
Jewish peak body welcomes royal commission announcement
The Executive Council of Australian Jewry, the peak body for the Australian Jewish community, has welcomed the announcement of a commonwealth royal commission, and said it was the “only way” Australia’s standards of decency and fairness could be upheld.
ECAJ president, Daniel Aghion, said the government had made the right decision in calling a commonwealth inquiry.
We are especially grateful to the eminent artists, lawyers, business leaders, sporting legends, political figures, women’s organisations and other groups who added their powerful voices to this call.
We welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement and expect that the terms of reference of the Royal Commission will allow an honest examination of government policies and the conduct and policies of key institutions and figures in major sectors of our society in contributing or failing to adequately respond to the unprecedented levels of antisemitism in Australia over the
past two years or more.
Aghion said the ECAJ would cooperate fully with the commission to “ensure that the full force of the community’s views and experiences of antisemitism in various sectors of society are brought to the forefront of the inquiry”.
‘The nation needs to come together,’ PM says
Finally, Albanese is asked if he has “any regrets” about the way Labor “pushed back” against initial calls for a royal commission.
He once again says the government has engaged respectfully with people and made sure the process was done in a way which “has got it right”.
We listen to people. I think that’s what people want … The nation needs to come together. When there has been a national crisis in the past, whether it be the Bali bombings … whether it be the attack that occurred on the Lindt cafe in Sydney, whether it be Port Arthur, there was no partisanship, no partisanship whatsoever. The country came together. They offered their unity in moving forward. That is what I have tried to do. I’d ask others to conduct themselves in a similar manner …
Social cohesion is about respect for all of us. That is what Australians want to see … the Australian covenant is that when people arrive in Australia they leave any hatreds or prejudices that they have in the customs hall. That’s what I want to see. That’s how we build a more united Australia. Thank you very much.
Government has been preparing royal commission ‘for weeks’, PM says
Albanese says the federal government has been working on the logistics of a royal commission “for weeks” and there is a working draft of the legislation ready for community members to look over.
We have worked very hard. This hasn’t been done up this morning.
He’s “hopeful” parliament will be able to begin debating the legislation prior to 26 January.
You can read the terms of reference here.
Albanese: ‘I can be accused of many things. Raising the temperature is not one of them’
Albanese continues on what led to his decision for a royal commission.
He says he has remained “absolutely determined that anything we did had to build social cohesion, not bring it apart”.
I don’t want a royal commission into whether we provide a solution on Gaza or on the Middle East. That’s not the role of a royal commission … Australians want two things when it comes to the Middle East. They want it to stop. They want peace, for Israelis and Palestinians. But the other thing that they want is for conflict to not be brought here.
As to whether taking four weeks to make the decision didn’t help to “lower the temperature”, he says:
In that 25 days we’ve established the Richardson review and got it up and running. We have drafted legislation that we’re sitting down with community members on today. We have increased funding for security agencies. We have had daily briefings of the Security Committee. We have been undertaking those briefings and getting the reports of what has occurred, some of which has been reported publicly, some of which has not been, trying to get to the heart of what has occurred here.
I can be accused of many things. Raising the temperature is not one of them.
Albanese says he listened to a ‘range of voices’ and views
Albanese is asked what the trigger was for him to change his mind on a royal commission, and what he would say to critics who suggest it’s been done for “political reasons”.
He says he’s “engaged constructively regardless of some of the things that have been said”.
I haven’t engaged in politics. I have been focused on outcomes. That’s the first point. The second is I’ve listened and in a democracy that’s a good thing, to listen to what people are saying and what people are saying is, yes, we’re concerned about the events and the Richardson review will give consideration to those national security issues, whether there are any gaps or anything else. But we want an opportunity to tell our story … what we are doing here is making sure that we get it right.
Pointed to “some members of the community”, including Josh Frydenberg, who expressed concerns over Justice Bell because of her previous decisions on protest laws, he says he listened to a “range of voices” and views.
Mr Frydenberg I leave to one side but we certainly consulted widely … one of the most common themes that I get from members of the Jewish community is that if you’ve got four people, you will have five opinions … there is no one of the stature of Virginia Bell, a former high court judge … someone with a background in the criminal law, someone who is widely respected right across the board.
‘Appropriate way forward for national unity’: PM on royal commission
The prime minister is asked why he has changed his previous position that a royal commission would take too long and risk traumatising the Jewish Australian community.
He reiterates what the federal government has arrived at is an “appropriate way forward for national unity”.
We have listened. We want to give the opportunity for people to come forward and to do so in a way that promotes social cohesion by rolling in the Richardson review and the work that Dennis Richardson will do into the royal commission.
That is one way in which the time frame has been curtailed. I think if we had adopted the 73 point proposal that was put forward by the opposition, we would have been many years down the track before we received any practical outcomes.
Royal commission to be conducted in ‘way that promotes social cohesion’, Tony Burke says
The minister for home affairs, Tony Burke, says today’s announcement demonstrates that the federal government is “clearly listening, in particular to the pleas that have come from family members and relatives”.
But he says they are doing so in a way that “does not slow down our response and doing so in a way that also maximises the capacity for social cohesion”.
The urgent information that we need for national security to make sure that our national security settings are fit for purpose, will still come to us in the same timely way that the prime minister and I had said was so essential when we first announced that review from Dennis Richardson.
The second thing is in terms of social cohesion, it is very important that the royal commission be crafted in a way that does not go on forever, and that gives the commissioner very specific powers to make sure it is conducted in a way that promotes social cohesion.
PM’s decision ‘right one and an important one’, Jillian Segal says
The special envoy for antisemitism, Jillian Segal, is up next.
She says the prime minister’s decision was “the right one and an important one”.
I think it’s important that the government has listened to all those who’ve advocated for such a commission. It does reflect the seriousness of the growth in antisemitism and its impact on our country and our democracy … The Jewish community and the broader Australian community have been calling for a process of this sort of authority. And it’s very important that that those calls have been heard.
Segal backs the prime minister’s comments that the commission doesn’t “pause or replace” ongoing work to combat antisemitism.
The focus will remain on prevention, education, institutional accountability and community and I think Australians expect truth about what happened at Bondi and the root causes. They expect sustained action to address the conditions that allowed such hatred to take root, and both must proceed together. So I will work very closely where appropriate with the commissioner, and outcomes matter and we will do our best to make sure that the process delivers them.
Royal commission won’t be ‘drawn out process’, Albanese says
Albanese says the royal commission won’t be a “drawn out process” and Commissioner Bell will be asked to report back before the 14 December 2026.
Importantly, we’ll be asking Commissioner Bell to ensure this inquiry does not prejudice any future criminal proceeding. This is vital and we’re confident that Commissioner Bell has the deep experience and expertise to conduct her inquiry in such a way that meaningfully examines the impact of antisemitism on the daily life of Jewish Australians and works to promote social cohesion and to do this without providing a platform for others’ hatred.
This royal commission is the right format, the right duration and the right terms of reference to deliver the right outcome for our national unity and our national security.
Albanese adds that a royal commission is not the end of what the nation must do to eradicate antisemitism which will be an “ongoing national effort”. He concludes:
Here in Australia, light will always triumph over darkness.
Royal commission to cover four areas
The prime minister says the royal commission will cover four key areas:
They include tackling antisemitism by investigating its nature, prevalence and key drivers, including “religious and motivated extremism and radicalisation”.
Making any recommendations to enforcement, border immigration and security agencies to tackle antisemitism; examining the circumstances surrounding the alleged Bondi terrorist attack; and making any other recommendations to strengthen social cohesion and counter the spread of “ideological and religiously motivated extremism in Australia”.
Albanese announces royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion
Albanese will recommend to the governor general in an executive council meeting to be held tomorrow that a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion should be established.
This was endorsed by a meeting of the federal cabinet. Today. I have asked that former high court justice the honourable Virginia Bell AC serve as the commissioner, as agreed with Commissioner Bell. Dennis Richardson’s work will become part of the commission and he will support its work with delivery of an interim report by the commission in April.
‘As prime minister, I respect people’s views and I listen to them,’ Albanese says
Albanese: “Each and every day since that terrible Sunday night, our government has been focused on supporting people grieving their loved ones”.
He continues:
Standing with the Australian Jewish community in this time of devastating pain and working around the clock with security agencies, police, state and territory governments and the Jewish community to take immediate action.
He points to new action addressing the recommendations from the envoy to combat antisemitism, bringing together national cabinet to fast-track gun laws and the Richardson review.
While we’ve been focused on these immediate actions, we’ve also been listening to the calls for a commonwealth royal commission. One of the reasons our nation is one of the oldest and strongest modern democracies in the world is because every Australian has the right to express their view. And as prime minister, I respect people’s views and I listen to them.
I take the time to choose the right path, the course of action that will make a positive difference to our country. I’ve said my focus is on urgent action rather than immediately calling a commonwealth royal commission … I’ve taken the time reflect, to meet with leaders in the Jewish community and most importantly, I’ve met with many of the families of victims and survivors of that horrific attack in family, in homes, in synagogues, at the governor general’s, in community events …
Prime minister addressing media at Parliament House in Canberra
Anthony Albanese is joined by the attorney general, minister for home affairs and special envoy on antisemitism. He begins:
Just 25 days ago, two gunmen armed with high-powered weapons went to Bondi beach on the first night of Hanukah and they murdered 15 innocent people.
They wounded of dozens men, women and children. This was an antisemitic terrorist attack aimed at Jewish Australians, inspired by ISIS, the deadliest that has ever occurred on Australian soil.
It was met by the courage and quick action of police, first responders and the extraordinary bravery of everyday Australians who saved lives.
Victoria’s fire danger on Friday predicted to be ‘worst since black summer’
Vic Emergency has issued a statement warning the community that tomorrow’s fire danger will be the worst across Victoria since black summer and “extremely dangerous” for people living, working or holidaying near Longwood and Mount Lawson.
Friday’s fire danger will be the worst across Victoria since black summer in 2019-20. Catastrophic and extreme fire conditions have been forecast across the state.
Emergency services are concerned about conditions forecast for Friday 9 January 2026 and the potential for the fires to spread significantly. People under the warning areas of the Longwood and at Mount Lawson fires should leave the area immediately immediately in line with the warnings issued on VicEmergency.
It said the Longwood fire was “incredibly dynamic” and spreading in multiple directions.
Communities that could be impacted by fire front or embers in the next 24 hours include: Creightons Creek, Strathbogie, Merton, Yarck, Molesworth, Alexandra and surrounds.
Albanese expected to announce federal royal commission into Bondi terror attack
Krishani Dhanji
The prime minister is expected to unveil a federal royal commission into antisemitism and the Bondi terror attack, as soon as 4:30pm this afternoon.
After weeks of pressure from the Jewish community, victims of the Bondi terror attack, the public and members of his caucus, Anthony Albanese will announce the backflip on his previous opposition to a federal commission.
Albanese began softening his stance on a potential royal commission earlier this week, after previously saying it would be divisive and favouring its review into national security agencies.
Former high court justice Virginia Bell is expected to be named one of the commissioners, despite some criticism and reservation from the Jewish community.
Huge crocodile caught near NT tourist spot prompts warnings
A crocodile nearly five metres long has been caught near a popular waterfall and picnic area, prompting warnings as the reptiles get about more in the wet season.
The 4.9-metre saltie was pulled from a trap on a creek that feeds into Wangi Falls, in Litchfield national park in the Top End, on Monday.
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife rangers are capturing a crocodile a day so far in 2026, after catching 241 in 2025, 30 fewer than 2024, with the reptiles sent to crocodile farms or destroyed.
Many national park sites are closed for swimming during the wet season, including Wangi Falls, with signs in place warning people to be “crocwise”.
The NT parks and wildlife minister, Marie-Clare Boothby, said exceptional wet season rainfall had driven increased crocodile movement across the Top End.
My message to all people who are looking to swim in natural waterways over the wet season is: if there is water, there could be crocodiles.
The first crocodile of the year to be caught by NT rangers was a 2.7-metre one on New Year’s Day in a creek in the Darwin rural area where children were swimming the day before.
-AAP
