Anthony Albanese orders review into law enforcement and intelligence agencies
Updated . First published at
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a review will be conducted into the country's intelligence and federal law enforcement agencies in the wake of the Bondi shooting.
The report will be led by former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson, and will examine multiple aspects of how Australia's security agencies are equipped to respond to acts of terror.
"The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation. Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond," the prime minister said in a statement.
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Albanese said the report would be published in April next year. Sam Mooy
The PM's own department, as well as cabinet, will undertake a wide-ranging examination of several agencies, including the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australia's Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) as well as examining if there are effective processes and information sharing between agencies.
"[The report] will examine whether federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the right powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe in the wake of the horrific antisemitic Bondi Beach terrorist attack," Albanese said.
The report will be provided to the government in April next year, and will also be made available to the public.
There have already been questions about whether the review goes far enough.
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A vigil is set to be held at Bondi Beach tonight. Getty
Albanese has stopped short of ordering a royal commission into how intelligence services and federal agencies acted before the shooting, which left 15 people dead.
His stance has been criticised by the leader of the Nationals, David Littleproud, claiming Albanese was afraid of the "truth" being revealed.
"There's no reason why we shouldn't have a federal royal commission," he said on Today.
"There has been a litany of failures here for two and a half years. The warning signs were there from the 8th of October, 2023.
"We should look ourselves in the eye. We should look at the failings of decisions made at a political level, at intelligence levels."
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Flowers and a mural at the site of last Sunday's terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Sitthixay Ditthavong
"I think unfortunately, the way this review has been set up, it looks like careful political management," Michael Shorebridge from Strategic Analysis Australia said.
Former treasurer Josh Frydenberg in a statement labelled it "wholly inadequate".
Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam said: "We don't need another internal review, we need a full commonwealth royal commission."
Alex Ryvchin from the Executive Council of Australian Jewry said: "The fact that we need to engage in an argument with the federal government about a royal commission. It's insulting, frankly."
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley visited Bondi hero Ahmed al Ahmed today.
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