Bondi attack: Secret extra hearings called for anti-Semitism Royal Commission to examine threat environment

Secret extra hearings will be held for the anti-Semitism Royal Commission to examine Australia’s counter-terrorism, intelligence and law enforcement agencies in the lead up to the Bondi attack.

The Commission revealed on Monday her high-probile probe in the wake of the nation’s worst terror attack would review the broader security environment surrounding the massacre, intelligence sharing, agency performance, and counter-terrorism resources.

Fifteen people were gunned down at Bondi Beach on December 14 while attending a Chanukah by the Sea event.

After weeks of denying one was required, Anthony Albanese bowed to public pressure in January and announced a royal commission into anti-Semitism and social cohesion.

Throughout the year Commissioner Virginia Bell has heard harrowing testimonies of anti-Semitism in Australia in the lead up to the deadly attack.

Unlike the previously live streamed hearings, the additional sessions announced on Monday will be held behind closed doors due to the “sensitivity of the evidence”.

It included avoiding “prejudice to national security and the ongoing criminal proceedings relating to the attack”.

The circumstances surrounding the attack listed for the new hearings includes:

The terrorism threat level and security environment in the lead up to the attack.

The conduct of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies relevant to the attack, including what was known about the shooters and what was done with that information.

The security arrangements for the Chanukah by the Sea event.

How intelligence about individuals known to authorities is utilised and shared to inform decisions made by security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies, including, for example, decisions about whether and how individuals are monitored and decisions in respect of firearms licence applications.

Resourcing for counter-terrorism, and the effectiveness of current powers, systems and processes of security, intelligence and law enforcement agencies.

Due to the sensitivity of the evidence, this hearing will be classified and therefore closed to the public to avoid prejudice to national security and the ongoing criminal proceedings relating to the attack.

One Nation leader Pauline Hanson, however, said she still felt the probe didn’t go far enough and should further examine “radical Islam” in Australia by calling for imams, clerics, and people she describes as “hate preachers” to be called as witnesses to speak about their rhetoric and radicalisation.

“From the very beginning… I believed it was going to be a failure because they didn’t put enough terms of reference there to actually really address the issues with this,” Senator Hason told News24.

“Now they’re extending out to ASIO and to the AFP to actually talk to them behind closed doors.

“I can see for national security reasons and that type of thing needs to be discussed, but they are still not going far enough.

“It’s about radical Islam in the country.

“Islamic organisations, especially those imams and hate preachers that are on the streets celebrating, should be called in to answer why they had that view of it and preaching their hate.”