On January 8, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that a large-scale Royal investigation would be conducted after the mass shooting at Bondi beach, where 15 people died. This is the highest-level investigative form in Australia, which may force individuals involved to testify.
The shooting that occurred during a Hanukkah ceremony of the Jewish community on the famous Bondi beach in Sydney shocked public opinion in a country with strict gun control laws. The incident sparked calls for increased security measures and stronger actions to deal with anti-Semitism.
Police said the two suspects are accused of being father and son, believed to be influenced by the self-proclaimed Islamic State (IS) organization. According to Prime Minister Albanese, the Royal investigation will not only review the developments of the shooting but also expand to issues related to anti-Semitism and social cohesion in Australia.
This investigation will be headed by Ms. Virginia Bell - a retired judge. According to the plan, the investigation committee is expected to release the results report in December this year. Prime Minister Albanese affirmed that this is a suitable framework in terms of time and scope to achieve the goal of strengthening national unity and ensuring security.
Previously, Mr. Albanese opposed the establishment of a Royal Inquiry on the grounds that the process could take years. That initial stance was criticized by Jewish organizations and the families of the victims, who called on the government to reconsider.
The Australian Prime Minister said that he had spent time reflecting, meeting with leaders of the Jewish community and especially contacting the relatives of the victims and survivors of the attack. According to him, these meetings played an important role in deciding to change the government's approach.
Before announcing the Royal Inquiry, the Australian Government announced that it would conduct an independent review of law enforcement agencies to assess whether authorities could take further steps to prevent the attack.
This review, focusing on the limitations of current law or information gaps that prevent police and security agencies from acting, will be merged into the Royal Investigation and is expected to report results in April.
