Albanese Under Fire as Fury Erupts Over Government’s Response to Sydney Terror Attack: ‘You Can Act and Have an Inquiry at the Same Time!’
- Furious Coalition MPs demand royal commission into deadly terror attack on Sydney’s Jewish community, as Labor rejects calls for inquiry
- Government flags package of measures to address antisemitism, but critics say gun reform won’t address underlying issue
- Anthony Albanese leaves door open to strengthening federal hate speech laws, as pressure mounts on government to take action
In the wake of the devastating terror attack on Sydney’s Jewish community, the Albanese government is facing mounting pressure to take further action to protect the community and address the rising tide of antisemitism. But as Labor rejects calls for a royal commission into the deadly attack, Coalition MPs are furious, arguing that the government is brushing aside the community’s concerns and failing to take decisive action.
In an emotional speech at the site of the attack, former Treasurer Josh Frydenberg called for practical steps to be taken, including bans on radical “hate preachers” and protests, stronger immigration laws, and a royal commission. “The last thing I want is for people to think that this is just going to be swept under the carpet and forgotten,” he said, his voice trembling with anger and emotion.
But Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke and Treasurer Jim Chalmers have pushed back against the calls for a royal commission, arguing that all resources should be focused on keeping the community safe and that an inquiry would only cause delay. “The last thing that I want is the delays that happen on a royal commission,” Burke said.
Coalition frontbencher James Paterson was left “flabbergasted” by the response, declaring that the government’s excuse for not holding an inquiry was “a disgrace”. “You can act and have an inquiry at the same time!” he exclaimed. “The only thing the Albanese government has done for the last two years is delay action.”
Former bureaucrat Dennis Richardson, who served as ASIO director-general, urged caution, saying that while a royal commission could compel people to give evidence under oath, it would take a long time and could be used as an excuse by governments to avoid taking action. “We ought to address the issues sitting behind that,” he said. “One of them is hate speech. There’s no point in having legislation relating to hate speech unless it is enforced.”
Assistant immigration minister Matt Thistlewaite has flagged that the government will unveil a package of measures to strengthen laws to fight antisemitism over the coming days and weeks, but critics say it’s too little, too late. “We’ve got to do everything we can,” said Labor MP Mark Dreyfus, a former attorney-general and one of the few Jewish federal parliamentarians. “We’ve got to work with each other on what can be done.”
