Overview
- Nearly 70 prominent sports figures signed an open letter calling for a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism, radicalisation and the Bondi massacre.
- The push was coordinated by Olympians Ian Thorpe and Grant Hackett with Nova Peris, Mike McKay, Danni Roche and Gerard Healy, and includes signatories such as Dawn Fraser, Jessica Fox, Pat Rafter, Lleyton Hewitt, Leigh Matthews and current AFL figures.
- The statement describes the Bondi attack as terrorism driven by violent extremist ideology, labels the situation a national crisis, and argues a royal commission would provide the most credible and unifying path to accountability and social cohesion.
- Anthony Albanese has ruled out a federal royal commission, citing a Dennis Richardson review of federal agencies, support for a NSW-led inquiry, adoption of Jillian Segal’s recommendations, and plans for tougher hate-speech and firearms laws.
- Families of victims, major business leaders, hundreds of legal figures and the Coalition have also urged a national inquiry, intensifying cross-sector pressure on the government.