Overview
- More than 100 business leaders and public figures, including former RBA governors Philip Lowe and Glenn Stevens and billionaire James Packer, signed an open letter urging a Commonwealth royal commission.
- Human Rights Commissioner Lorraine Finlay became the first government‑appointed official to endorse a federal inquiry, calling it essential to confront the antisemitism behind the Bondi attack.
- The Australian Catholic Bishops Conference backed a broader, authoritative national inquiry into antisemitism alongside the Richardson review to uncover deeper drivers and propose remedies.
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese reiterated there will be no Commonwealth royal commission, citing advice from security authorities, and confirmed Dennis Richardson’s review will report by the end of April with federal cooperation for a NSW royal commission.
- Pressure has widened to include victims’ families, more than 200 former judges and senior barristers, and former premiers, while prominent KC Robert Richter argued against a federal royal commission as lengthy and unnecessary.