All 14 recommendations from Bondi terror attack royal commission

Virginia Bell has handed the interim report from the anti-Semitism royal commission that she leads to Governor-General Sam Mostyn.

This first piece of work — a slim volume — covers the intelligence and national security agencies’ coordination and what they knew or missed in the lead up to December’s deadly Bondi Beach terror attack.

Fifteen people who were celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah died in the Islamic State-inspired shooting.

“This is a very important matter that you have reported on,” Ms Mostyn told the former High Court judge on Thursday.

The examination of agencies was originally commissioned as a standalone piece of work from former top security bureaucrat Dennis Richardson, but was rolled into the royal commission when it was established.

Mr Richardson quit in mid-March, saying he didn’t find his full expertise was necessary to the new format of the work.

The royal commission begins its first hearings on Monday, for a block of two weeks. It will deliver a final report before the anniversary of the shooting on December 14.

Recommendations from the Bondi royal commission

1. The procedures adopted by NSW Police in respect of Operation Jewish High Holy Days should apply to other high risk Jewish festivals and events, particularly those that have a public facing element.
2. Having regard to the significance of the role of the Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator in providing counter-terrorism leadership, the Commission recommends consideration be given to making the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator’s role full-time.
3. If the ANZCTC is to be used again as a crisis committee, the ANZCTC should be included in the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework so its role is clear.
4. The Counter-Terrorism Handbook should be updated promptly and then at least every three years in coordination with updates to the Counter-Terrorism Plan and the ANZCTC triennial review.
5. The ANZCTC should provide direct advice in the form of a written and/or oral briefing, at least annually, to National Cabinet (including, as appropriate, advice on ANZCTC activities, the use of the ANZCTC Special Fund, and national counter-terrorism challenges and priorities).
6. The ANZCTC should commission a review of the Joint Counter-Terrorism Teams, with a report to be submitted to Police Commissioners and the Director-General of Security within three months of commencement. The review should include consideration of leadership structures, team integration, systems access and information sharing arrangements. The review should place particular focus on the Joint Counter-Terrorism Team-NSW, elements of which should be for reporting specifically to the NSW Police Commissioner, the AFP Commissioner and the Director-General of Security.
7. The Australian Government should consider whether National Security Committee ministers, including the Prime Minister, should participate in a counter-terrorism exercise, along with all National Cabinet members, within nine months of each federal election.
8. This recommendation is contained in the confidential Interim Report. Interim report: Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
9. This recommendation is contained in the confidential Interim Report.
10. This recommendation is contained in the confidential Interim Report.
11. This recommendation is contained in the confidential Interim Report.
12. This recommendation is contained in the confidential Interim Report.
13. The Commonwealth and states and territories should prioritise efforts to finalise and implement an updated and nationally consistent National Firearms Agreement.
14. The Commonwealth, states and territories should prioritise efforts to implement the proposed National Gun Buyback Scheme.