30/12/2025
PRESS RELEASE - Don’t Blame Me: Albo Refuses Royal Commission 30.12.25.
“We are joining the call for a federal Royal Commission re the Bondi Beach massacre on 14.12.25, the first night of Chanukah when the Jewish community was gunned down by ISIS-inspired terrorists,” said Norman and Barbara Miller, Co-founders of Indigenous Friends of Israel International Foundation.
“The refusal by PM Albanese to set up a Royal Commission despite calls by the families of those killed and injured at Bondi Beach, and a host of eminent Australians from the judiciary, national security, law enforcement, Jewish leadership and former MP’s is scandalous and is adding fuel to the fire of a rage burning in Australia that could see the Prime Minister’s downfall.
“Instead, Albanese is setting up a law enforcement and intelligence review that does not mention antisemitism or Jews or previous attacks on Jews, and does not include hate speech, hate preachers or pro-Palestinian protests featuring the flags or photos of leaders of terror groups. This will not cut it.
We need to get to the root causes of antisemitism and how it was allowed to escalate to the massacre at Bondi. The government needs to face its inadequate response, indifference and its own role in fanning the flames that led to Bondi. Albo’s don’t blame me won’t cut it either.
“At least Premier Chris Minns is showing some leadership by setting up a NSW Royal Commission but it will not have wide enough powers and all states need to be looked at. The fact that Jewish security asked for more police at the Bondi event – a no-brainer - and didn’t get it is shocking.
“PM Albanese’s excuse for not holding a Royal Commission shows he is fearful of the outcome. He said, ‘Royal Commissions can be good at deciding facts … (they are) not as good to consider things that are not agreed, where people have differences of views.’
“Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said it would further challenge our social cohesion. It would ‘provide a public platform for some of the worst statements and worst voices, to effectively relive some of the worst examples of antisemitism over the last two years.’ But the truth needs to come out and the Jewish community have said they need it to feel safe.
“Sheina Gutnik, the daughter of Reuven Morrison, led the efforts of the families of victims of Bondi to write a joint statement to the Prime Minister calling for a Royal Commission and she told The Australian:
“’It’s the absolute audacity for them to come out and tell us how we are going to feel about this. It’s incomprehensible on Albanese, trying to dictate what is going to traumatise us. Let’s take these steps to ensure that there will be no further trauma.’”
The Millers continued, “PM Albanese thought he and Foreign Minister Penny Wong could criticize Israel unfairly and with impunity and not lead to serious consequences for Jewish Australians and not draw accusations of culpability for the Bondi Beach massacre. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke thought he could bring in 3,000 Gazans and some ISIS brides to keep his Muslim voters onside without affecting social cohesion in Australia,”
“Albo was caught on the backfoot and was like a deer in the headlights. Despite numerous warnings from the Jewish community and national security agencies he took little action and now plans an inquiry into national security and law enforcement agencies as window dressing and a cover for his own performance.
“Our hearts grieve with the Jewish community who have been exemplary citizens of Australia and deserve protection, admiration, respect and love. Australia will never be the same again just as Israel will never be the same again after Oct 7. However, many good-hearted Australians have come out of the woodwork to show support and care for our Jewish neighbours. We hope this will continue. It should not take a horrific tragedy to bring it, but we have reached a turning point in facing and dealing with antisemitism in Australia. Let’s make sure we are up to the task.”
