‘He’s a coward’: Niece of Bondi victim lashes PM over royal commission

The niece of Bondi victim Boris Tetleroyd has labelled Anthony Albanese a “coward” after the prime minister again rejected calls for a federal royal commission into Australia’s worst domestic terror attack.

The prime minister has claimed such a public inquiry would needlessly promote hate speech.

Jenny Roytur, whose cousin Yaakov was also shot in the attack, said the Jewish community deserved to know why antisemitism had escalated so quickly and why authorities had ignored warnings. Her family was signatory to an open letter from 17 families demanding answers and accountability from the government, alongside a Commonwealth royal commission.

Albanese, who has faced fierce personal criticism from the Jewish community and his political opponents for his response to the attack which left 15 people dead on December 14, again ruled out holding a public inquiry into antisemitism in a press conference on Monday, after releasing the terms of reference for a review into law enforcement and intelligence agencies by former diplomat Dennis Richardson.

He said his approach would be swifter and safer than the alternatives being presented.

Roytur said Albanese was ignoring the wishes of the victim’s families.

“He’s a coward with his own ideological viewpoints that he has carried through his whole time in parliament, and this is just proving it,” she said. “We were hunted like animals by extremists, and we now know that the radicals and extremists are spreading like cancer, and it has to be cut, and the truth has to come out, and they must do a Commonwealth royal commission.”

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke warned that a royal commission would provide a public platform for “some of the worst statements and worst voices”, and risked Jewish Australians reliving horrific examples of antisemitism during the past two years.

Burke said the government needed “the sort of inquiry that keeps Australians safe and that does not provide a platform for the worst voices; the Richardson inquiry does exactly that”.

Sabina Kleitman, the daughter of murdered Alex Kleytman, said in a statement that many Australians were united in wanting to know why the horrific attacks took place and what circumstances and decisions led to it.

“Our government could not protect the 15 innocent souls who were taken from us and those that were injured,” she said. “They must now do everything in their power to protect Australians, and for now, this means initiating the royal inquiry. It’s their duty to all Australians to provide safety and security to all.”

Sheina Gutnick, one of the signatories to the open letter and the daughter of Reuven Morrison, who was shot and killed throwing bricks at one of the Bondi shooters, said in an interview before the prime minister’s press conference that Albanese and the federal government were “absolutely” responsible for the attack.

“Recognising … Palestine as an official state has been a massive gasoline to the fire whilst Hamas is in power. And I think the biggest proof is a thank-you letter from Hamas to the Albanese government for the recognition of the state,” Gutnick said.

“We can have whatever views that we need to have as individuals on the current conflict of the Middle East,” she said. “But if the current government policies are adding fuel to the fire, they need to be held responsible.”

Asked directly on Monday about the plea from families, Albanese said: “My heart breaks for the families of the victims of the Bondi terrorist atrocity, and my heart … goes out to them at what is an incredibly traumatic time.”

He has repeatedly argued a federal royal commission would be too slow, similar commissions having taken years to hand down findings. While NSW Labor MPs Mike Freelander and Ed Husic have supported calls for a royal commission, several other caucus members, speaking on the condition of anonymity, are worried the PM has been too stubborn on the issue and has given in to the public service.

“We know agencies and the public service hate any kind of accountability and they are telling him not to call a royal commission,” said one MP. “I think he’s probably been hoodwinked by them in that sense.”

After a six-month delay, the government adopted several of the recommendations made by antisemitism envoy Jillian Segal, announced new hate speech laws to be introduced early next year, a review of law enforcement and intelligence agencies, and changes to gun laws including a national buyback program.

A state-based royal commission has been established by NSW Premier Chris Minns, which will be able to work with federal agencies. But the Jewish community, legal experts and the federal opposition continue to step up demands for a Commonwealth royal commission capable of compelling the federal government and its agencies to testify.

The attack occurred on the first night of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, and families who gathered for the Chanukah by the Sea event near Archer Park were the target. Of the 15 victims, 13 were Jewish. Among those who have demanded a Commonwealth royal commission are former High Court chief justice Robert French, former intelligence chief Nick Warner, 135 prominent barristers, Jewish community organisations and the Coalition.

The Hindu Council of Australia on Monday joined the calls for a royal commission into antisemitism, saying it should investigate if individuals or groups contributed to the hate leading to the attack. The council is itself being investigated by the Australian Human Rights Council over complaints of Islamophobia.

Former home affairs boss Mike Pezzullo said only a royal commission would be able to look comprehensively at the issue and critically access the actions or inaction of the government itself.

“For instance, if it is now thought appropriate in the wake of this heinous attack to move to list and sanction hate organisations, as is being proposed, why was this measure not considered before the attack? Or was it considered, and rejected?” he said.

“A royal commission could be properly structured so as to get to the bottom of the questions, and in a sequenced fashion, such that findings and recommendations could be brought down on matters requiring urgent attention, while other packages of work could proceed at different paces.”

Pezzullo rejected Albanese’s claim that it was a binary choice between a retired judge or a former public official, saying it would be best dealt with by having both.

“That was the model employed by Mr [Paul] Keating when he established the royal commission into ASIS in March 1994,” he said. “The commission itself would have control of proceedings, as a judge does in a trial. Submissions do not have to be accepted, and witnesses do not have to be called.”

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said the government’s claim a royal commission would platform antisemitism was “not protective, it is patronising”.

The Coalition has proposed its own wide-ranging terms of reference for a royal commission, which were criticised by Albanese as being far too broad and potentially requiring a years-long inquiry. Ley said she was willing to work with the government to discuss alternative terms.

“The families of victims want this Commonwealth royal commission. The Jewish community wants it. Eminent Australians want it. And I suspect millions of ordinary Australians want it too,” Ley said.

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