Royal commission into Bondi attack appears inevitable for Albanese government

History tells us it's only a matter of time before the federal government calls a national royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.

Having once been an opposition leader who heaped pressure on government to instigate such inquiries, Anthony Albanese should know his resistance on this matter now is futile.

This is not to say the literal lectern thumping performance from the opposition on this issue warrants capitulation, but there is enough merit in the idea for the prime minister to act, despite knowing the Coalition will paint it as a political backdown.

Albanese has already left the door slightly ajar by virtue of volunteering support for whatever the NSW government needs, which presumably could include empowering a state royal commission to look at federal agencies.

But for now, he remains steadfast in his refusal to take the lead by calling a sweeping national inquiry, in favour of a shorter, sharper probe in the country's intelligence and security agencies.

Calls for a royal commission

The announcement of this inquiry has done nothing to dissuade the Jewish Australian community, the opposition and judicial experts from calling for a royal commission — with even Labor MPs now breaking rank to back the idea.

Tougher gun laws and a crackdown on hate speech are important parts of the government's wide-reaching response to the horrific terror attack.

But those measures do not directly quell the thirst for answers and desire in parts of the community to have their say on how they feel this situation came to pass.

The calls for a royal commission are symbolic of this desperate need for information and validation of the Jewish Australian experience in recent years.

There may be political forces at play, and it is also demonstrably true that a royal commission would not be able to act with the same urgency as other forms of investigation, but that does not negate the value in holding one.

A lesson Morrison learned

This is a lesson former prime minister Scott Morrison learned prior to calling a royal commission into veteran and defence suicides in 2021, an idea he had flatly opposed for years.

Instead, he had appointed a permanent national commissioner with the same powers to undertake a more rapid response, making use of the wealth of reviews and inquiries already conducted.

At every turn he was pushed by Labor, led by Albanese, to instead pursue a full royal commission on the basis it would produce a more comprehensive response, and crucially, was what the loved ones of those who had died wanted.

It was a similar story in the wake of the black summer bushfires, which were still burning in some parts of the country when talk turned to a royal commission.

Initial reticence due to the lack of timeliness and cumbersome nature of such an inquiry was ultimately overcome due to the public desire for it.

So, Albanese has seen this play many times before.

Instead, for now, he remains steadfastly committed to a Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet probe into agencies like ASIO and the Australian Federal Police led by the nation's former spy boss Dennis Richardson.

Labor MPs break rank

On Monday, the government was treating interrogation of this proposal as either questioning the integrity of Richardson or not understanding the need for fast answers such an inquiry, which is due to report back in April, can provide.

This ignores the fact that Richardson himself was last week insisting the factors at play in the Bondi attack went beyond the capabilities, structure and resourcing of those agencies.

Already Labor MPs Mike Freelander and Ed Husic have come out in public support of a national royal commission.

Multiple Labor MPs speaking privately to the ABC have expressed their dismay at the handling of the inquiry calls.

While many believe Albanese is right in tasking a rapid review of potential operational gaps and issues, there is a sense that the public wants to see some contrition and responsibility from the government about the broader issues at play, including antisemitism.

One Labor MP likened the mood in caucus to that of the Australian community — "confused and frustrated" that such an attack could occur here and, ultimately, a "desire for answers".

Another says the long-term nature of a royal commission would actually give the government some much-needed ballast as it continues to be battered and bruised in the court of public opinion.

Ley takes swipe at Wong

Using logic to argue against emotion in politics rarely works, though the opposition is in danger of overloading on the latter with increasingly inflamed claims about the government.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley on Monday took a vicious personal swipe at Foreign Minister Penny Wong for not attending the Bondi memorial site or funerals of victims, suggesting the Labor minister had not "shed a single tear" over the attack.

Such rhetoric hardly fits with the summer of "calm" urged by NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Sunday night's commemoration at Bondi Beach for the national day of reflection aptly captured the mood of Australia's Jewish community — there was sadness, a hopeful resilience and there was anger.

Amid the grief and solemnity, praise for acts of courage and extraordinary first-hand accounts of bravery, the line-up of speakers delivered a clear and steady message to the prime minister present in the crowds: you must do more.

Albanese, who last week admitted he and his government are not "perfect" and will further tackle antisemitism in Australia, is in the midst of a perilous test of his leadership.

A test of his leadership 

The boos and jeers that followed Albanese as he arrived at the event and when he was welcomed by name during the opening were shocking, but not surprising.

The Jewish Australian community feels they were ignored by the government in the lead-up to the attack, and worry they are still not going to get a hearing in its aftermath.

Much has been said of Albanese's inability to assume the natural role of a prime minister as "national mourner in chief" in the wake of a crisis, due to his fractious relationship with the very community targeted at Bondi last week.

That he was unwelcome at the funerals of the victims, and perhaps unwilling to create a public spectacle by joining mourners gathered at the makeshift memorial by the Bondi Pavilion, is an astonishing departure from the usual emphasis on unity and solidarity in such moments.

The prime minister has privately met with the families and loved ones of victims, as well as prominent leaders in their communities.

Albanese is undoubtedly facing some tough conversations behind closed doors, but until the public gets to witness the scrutiny — perhaps through a royal commission — he will never satisfy his critics.