Australia’s Sporting Elite Unite: 60 Top Athletes Demand Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism and Bondi Massacre
- Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe lead unprecedented campaign for a Royal Commission into anti-Semitism and the events leading up to the Bondi massacre
- More than 60 of Australia’s most loved sporting stars, including Lleyton Hewitt and Nova Peris, sign joint statement calling for urgent action
- Prime Minister Anthony Albanese under pressure to act after Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accuses him of “making excuses” and “not listening” to victims’ families
In a powerful show of unity, Australia’s sporting elite has come together to demand a Royal Commission into anti-Semitism and the events leading up to the devastating Bondi massacre. Led by swimming icons Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe, more than 60 of the country’s most loved athletes have signed a joint statement calling for urgent action to be taken.
“The hate experienced by the Jewish community and our whole community in Bondi and beyond was abhorrent, unjustified and not the Australia I know and love,” Thorpe said. “Unfortunately, Jewish people are not the only group targeted by hate. First Nations people, people of different faiths, ethnicity and even LGBTIQ+ people remain among those facing rising levels of vilification and targeted violence.”
Hackett added: “When our values are tested, Australians expect strength and leadership — and the tragedy at Bondi was a defining moment for who we are as a nation. A Commonwealth Royal Commission is vital to protect our social fabric, support the Jewish community, and uphold the Australian way of life we are proud to call our own.”
The joint statement, signed by athletes including Lleyton Hewitt, Nova Peris, and Brad Fittler, called for a Royal Commission to be established immediately. “This is not who we are. This is not the Australia we represented,” the statement read. “We call on the Prime Minister and the Australian Government to show decisive national leadership by confronting extremism and terrorism in all its forms, without fear or hesitation.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has continually ruled out establishing a federal royal commission, instead opting for a departmental review led by former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson. However, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has publicly criticised Albanese, accusing him of “making excuses” and “not listening” to victims’ families.
The sporting leaders’ movement has unfolded in extraordinary circumstances, with the athletes coming together in just 24 hours to sign the joint statement. The list of signatories includes some of Australia’s most respected and beloved athletes, who are determined to use their platform to demand action and bring about change.
“This is a national crisis, and it demands a national response,” the statement read. “We call on the Australian Government to immediately establish a Commonwealth Royal Commission into anti-Semitism, radicalisation and the events leading up to the Bondi massacre as well as take other immediate action to protect the public.”
With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games approaching, the eyes of the world will soon be upon Australia. The safety of our citizens, the integrity of our public spaces, and the values we project as a nation have never mattered more.