Anthony Albanese has insisted he is being driven by conviction but his refusal to hold a royal commission into anti-Semitism could come at a political cost.
The prime minister has rejected calls from Jewish groups and the families of those killed in the Bondi terror attack for a wide-ranging national inquiry, instead announcing an independent probe into intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
He has been lashed over the decision, with Opposition Leader Sussan Ley accusing him of “shouting over the top” of those worst affected by the massacre.
“They feel disrespected, they feel patronised,” Ms Ley said.
The review of the security ecosystem will be led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has said Mr Richardson is better positioned than a retired judge to look into such matters, and expressed concern a royal commission would “replatform” extremist views.
The report will be finalised by April whereas a royal commission would take years to deliver findings, Mr Albanese noted.
“Our position is not out of convenience, it is out of conviction that this is the right direction to go in,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
The prime minister had found himself in a difficult position after being quick to reject calls for a national royal commission, Monash University head of politics and international relations Zareh Ghazarian said.
“There’s a sense that he may have painted himself into a corner where he was very clear in that he did not favour a royal commission, and despite the growing calls, he has stuck to his guns,” Dr Ghazarian told AAP.
“It is politically costing the prime minister and the government ground. It’s also costing them good will and arguable support as well.”
Some royal commissions have resulted in little substantive change but have outlined systemic issues as a matter of public record.
Indigenous deaths in custody have reached their highest level since 1980 despite the 1991 royal commission into the issue handing down 339 recommendations, many of which were never implemented.
The disability royal commission took four-and-a-half years, with 222 recommendations provided to the government in 2023.
When asked why the terms of reference for the Richardson review did not mention anti-Semitism, Mr Albanese said the framework revolved around those issues.
He added that the heads of Australia’s intelligence and law enforcement agencies had recommended against a commonwealth commission.
“There’s potential that he may be publicly disagreeing with his current advisors if he was to now change tact,” Dr Ghazarian said.
“So I suspect there’s politics heavily involved but also the advice that’s being received playing a huge role in his steadfast position.”
The NSW government has launched its own state-based royal commission into the Bondi attack, to which the prime minister has said he will co-operate.
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