Crossbench demand commission as sporting greats blast government inaction

Crossbench MPs have heaped further pressure on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to hold a Commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism and urgently update hate speech laws, in the face of staunch opposition from Labor, which says a federal inquiry would take too long.

The calls came as Australian swimming legend Dawn Fraser accused leaders of inaction as she addressed the media on Sunday alongside sporting figures and the families of victims at Bondi Beach.

Andrew Gee, Tammy Tyrrell and David Pocock have thrown their support behind a royal commission into antisemitism.Credit: Nathan Perri

Independent MPs David Pocock, Tammy Tyrrell and Andrew Gee have spoken out alongside a bloc of inner-city independents demanding the inquiry following weeks of mounting pressure from influential Australians.

“The feeling I get from people is that the federal government is yet to fully meet community expectations in how they have responded to the Bondi terror attack,” Pocock told this masthead.

“I fully support calls for a federally led royal commission jointly established with the states and territories, so there is a longer and deeper look at what needs to be done to put a stop to antisemitism in this country.”

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Since the December 14 terror attack, open letters demanding a royal commission have been penned by the families of 17 victims of the Bondi attack, over 200 barristers and judges, 60 Australian sporting legends, Catholic bishops and the business community.

Albanese has repeatedly rebuffed the calls, saying an independent review into law enforcement and security agencies, combined with a raft of legislative reforms targeting hate speech and gun ownership, and the implementation of special envoy Jillian Segal’s report into antisemitism were appropriate. The government has committed to fully co-operating with a NSW royal commission called by Premier Chris Minns. Albanese said federal agencies would also comply.

Addressing the media on Sunday after signing the letter from sporting figures, eight-time Olympic medallist Fraser said she was “so very sorry” for the victims and their families, and that she had “never seen so much hatred and division” in her 88 years.

Australian Olympic legend Dawn Fraser and Nova Peris (right) speak at a gathering of families of the Bondi terror attack victims on Sunday.Credit: AAPIMAGE

Andrew Gee, who represents the regional NSW seat of Calare, told this masthead Jewish constituents were desperate for the attack to be a “turning point” in the nation’s handling of antisemitism.

“I’ll continue to push for a royal commission into this barbaric act of terrorism, which should include the antisemitism that has frequently been ignored and allowed to flourish unchecked,” he said.

“How Australia responds to this atrocity and what has been a rising tide of antisemitism and its associated violence and intimidation will be a defining moment for our nation,” he said, adding that if the government’s proposed reforms to hate speech legislation were not strong enough, he would draft his own legislation.

Tyrrell, an independent senator for Tasmania, said she was “fully behind” a federal commission that investigated antisemitism and “any hate-related speech”.

“My concern, however, as with any commission, is the time it takes to implement,” Tyrrell said, echoing a key argument the government has offered in its opposition to a federal commission.

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The three MPs join teal independents Monique Ryan, Kate Chaney, Sophie Scamps and Zali Stegall, who wrote to Albanese last month saying a Commonwealth inquiry was the only way to “comprehensively and independently investigate” the circumstances of the December 14 attack. Bradfield independent Nicolette Boele shared her support the same day.

Independent MP Allegra Spender, whose seat of Wentworth takes in Bondi Beach, said she had observed a visceral response from her community, who were clamouring for action from the government on antisemitism.

“There is huge sadness, there’s massive grief, there is deep fear, and there’s anger,” Spender said.

The MP has called for a royal commission, alongside the introduction of a cabinet-level ministerial portfolio focused on social cohesion. Spender lamented parliament’s failure to pass stronger hate speech laws in the last term of parliament.

“Where the reform went previously was not far enough, and we do need hate speech [laws] that deal with the incitement of hatred between groups, similar to legislation we’ve had in WA for the last 20 odd years,” she said.

Independent Victorian senator Lidia Thorpe said she supported a royal commission into antisemitism, but she believed its remit should be expanded.

“I can understand the Jewish community’s wish for a deeper examination of the roots of the violence behind the Bondi attacks. I believe, though, that … this country is experiencing a dangerous shift to right-wing extremism,” she said.

Thorpe said a commission focused only on antisemitism would offer “too narrow focus and will not address the wider dangers of this [right-wing extremist] movement”.

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