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Former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson will spearhead an inquiry to assess the readiness of Australia’s security agencies in countering terrorist threats.
Highlighting the urgency of this initiative, the prime minister pointed to last Sunday’s ISIS-inspired attack as a stark reminder of the evolving security challenges facing the nation. “It’s crucial that our security agencies are optimally prepared to tackle such threats,” he emphasized in a statement released earlier today.
The review will encompass a comprehensive evaluation by both the prime minister’s office and the cabinet, scrutinizing agencies like the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).
Prime Minister Albanese elaborated, stating, “This review will determine if our federal law enforcement and intelligence bodies possess the necessary powers, frameworks, procedures, and collaborative mechanisms to safeguard Australians, especially following the dreadful antisemitic terrorist incident at Bondi Beach.”
As Bondi gears up to commemorate the tragic event, the findings of this report are slated for release to both the government and the public in April of the coming year.
The report will be provided to the government in April next year, and will also be made available to the public.
Albanese has stopped short of ordering a Royal Commission into how intelligence services and federal agencies acted before the shooting, which left 15 people dead.
“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a federal Royal Commission,” he said on Today.
“There has been a litany of failures here for two and a half years. The warning signs were there from the 8th of October, 2023.
“We should look ourselves in the eye. We should look at the failings of decisions made at a political level, at intelligence levels.”
Australians are also being encouraged to light a candle in solidarity with the victims and the Jewish community.
