Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure to ensure that a royal commission into anti-Semitism can call serving and former ministers as witnesses as it examines the lead-up to the Bondi terror attack.
Government discussions are continuing today as the Prime Minister weighs a backflip on his opposition to the federal royal commission.
A decision expected as early as Friday. He is also expected to recall parliament early in January, to pass new hate speech laws.
News.com.au revealed on Tuesday that Mr Albanese had indicated to confidantes he is now considering embracing a royal commission.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is under pressure over one detail in a royal commission into anti-Semitism, that could see him hauled before it. Picture: NewsWire /Pool/ Martin Ollman
It’s expected to be a topic of discussion at the national security committee meeting as early as today that will be attended by the Prime Minister, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, Treasurer Jim Chalmers and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.
But former Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo, who has led public calls for a royal commission, said it must have the power to compel ministers to give evidence.
This was the case in the robocall inquiry that ultimately included Scott Morrison and other ministers giving evidence.
“The next challenge will be to get the correct focus and scope,’’ Mr Pezzullo told news.com.au.
“Ministers cannot be excluded from scrutiny. It also has to encompass underlying causes and factors – as we said in the open letter, those being principally the explosion in anti-Semitism and the enduring threat posed by Islamist extremism and terrorism.”
Former Secretary to the Department of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo said any royal commission must have the powers to compel ministers to give evidence. Picture: Hilary Wardhaugh/Getty Images
Behind closed doors, a group of Labor MPs are pushing for an inquiry into anti-Semitism to run parallel to the probe being conducted into the intelligence agencies by former ASIO chief Dennis Richardson.
“If you asked me two weeks ago, I would have said there’s a 5 per cent chance of a royal commission. My honest assessment right now I would put it at 90 per cent (of a royal commission),’’ a Labor source said.
“They are shifting. We are shifting. We have to. And it will be a matter of time, but we will shift.
“We can’t be on the other side of the victims. And he doesn’t want to be on the other side of the victims.”
Liberal leader Sussan Ley has called on Mr Albanese to move forward with a royal commission as quickly as possible.
“The Prime Minister has delayed, deflected and looked past victims for far too long now,’’ Ms Ley said.
“Today is the day for the Prime Minister to step up, step out and announce this Commonwealth royal commission.
“Australians are watching. Victims’ families are waiting. And the time for leadership is now. What is the Prime Minister hiding? And why is he not listening?”
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has laid out what she says the royal commission should address. Picture: Gaye Gerard /NewsWire
Speaking in Queensland’s flood-ravaged north on Tuesday, Mr Albanese was peppered with questions over whether he was planning a backflip on a royal commission.
In another shift in language, he said the government was continuing to examine “everything possible” to address anti-Semitism.
“We are continuing to examine everything else that is required,’’ he said.
“I continue to be engaged with leaders in the Jewish community, and I am talking and meeting on a daily basis with people to make sure we do everything possible.”
Asked again if he was “open” to a royal commission or if he was ruling it out, Mr Albanese said discussions were continuing.
“The New South Wales government has said they will have a royal commission, but we are talking to New South Wales about how that would operate, and we are talking with the community,’’ he said.
“We are engaged with the community as well as with the New South Wales government to make sure that we get done everything that is required.”
Anthony Albanese yesterday appeared to soften his stance on a royal commission. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman
The Richardson probe into intelligence agencies and the Bondi attack, first revealed by news.com.au on December 20, will investigate whether Australia’s security agencies have the powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe.
However, Labor MPs want a royal commission into anti-Semitism to be led by a respected judge that would examine anti-Semitism more broadly, including why Jewish children have to attend school with armed guards.
Mr Albanese is now expected to recall parliament early to introduce hate speech laws, with the possibility MPs could return to Canberra in the week before Australia Day.
Parliament was scheduled to return in early February prior to the Bondi terror attack.
Meanwhile, former Labor MP Michael Danby has accused the Albanese government of seeking to avoid a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack “at all costs”.
“I understand there are some very bitter enders in the Cabinet who are in the socialist left who want to avoid this royal commission at all costs because of things that might come out,” he told Sky News.
“This is a very different government than a normal Labor government. It’s a socialist-left dominated Labor government.
“I’m very pleased to tell you that it’s now up to 25 (signatories) and more former members are putting their names to that petition calling for the government to do the royal commission.
“It ain’t over till it’s over.”
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