The NSW premier says the federal royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion must include a "full and comprehensive" examination of what led to the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's announcement on Thursday has been mostly welcomed by survivors, victims' families and community groups who spent the past week lobbying for a national inquiry — but many have lamented the time it took to be called.

For some, like Gabriel Tretiak, there is a relief that the inquiry has been announced, but a sense of questions left unanswered remains.

Gabriel is the 17-year-old grandson of Randwick woman Tania Tretiak, who was one of 15 people killed in the terror attack at Bondi Beach last month.

"I think it should have been done earlier," he said of the inquiry's announcement.

Tania Tretiak, who lost her life when two gunmen stormed Bondi Beach and killed 15 people in December. (Supplied)

"We need answers.

"I feel like it has taken this long because the government is trying to hide something."

Ms Tretiak, 68, who immigrated to Australia from Russia in 1992, loved travelling and spending time with her family, Gabriel said.

He said when he and his parents rushed to Bondi Beach that night, police detectives told his family the officers on duty at the Hanukkah event "had just finished their training" two months earlier.

"I want to know … why the people on duty at the event took so long to take down the shooters,"

he said.

"I would like to know why the police decided to put rookie police on the scene, instead of highly trained shooters who knew how to use a gun."

Minns, Jewish community welcomes inquiry

NSW Premier Chris Minns has not ruled out a separate state-based inquiry. (ABC News: Jack Fisher)

NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the state royal commission will no longer go ahead and his government and its agencies will "fully comply and cooperate".

"I know that the victims of this horrible tragedy have been calling for it, and I know it's vitally important that we get to the bottom of what happened," he said on Friday.

"The most important obligation any government has is to keep its people safe and the sad reality for us in NSW is that we didn't do that last month.

"We need to do everything we possibly can to make sure that doesn't happen again."

He declined to comment on his discussions with Mr Albanese about the royal commission.

Mr Minns said it was important to have a single royal commission but noted he was "not ruling out our own inquiry", saying in reference to independent Jewish security groups that the state may need "immediate information that could help us". 

Lynda Ben-Menashe from the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia said she hoped the royal commission would result in a safer Australia for all communities.

"It is disappointing that it has taken so long to get to this point," she said.

"However, the prime minister has listened to Australians, including Jewish Australians, and that is the role of a prime minister.

"Humility in leadership is very much appreciated by us. When a prime minister says 'I've been listening and I've changed my mind' — that's a very good thing to hear from a leader."

Executive Council of Australian Jewry president Daniel Aghion said the Jewish community felt "listened to" after weeks of requesting a royal commission be held.

Mr Aghion said he was pleased with the terms of reference, and said the inquiry must look at the "disturbing escalation" of antisemitism over the past two years.

President of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, Daniel Aghion. (ABC News)

"Jews now are five times more likely to be a victim of antisemitism than prior to the 7th of October 2023, the Hamas attack in Israel," he said.

"And as a consequence, we are victims, and indeed we are victims of increasing aggression and violence."

Mr Aghion said while there had been "various views expressed" about the appointment of former High Court justice Virginia Bell to lead the inquiry, he said she had "excellent credentials".

"The community now needs to get behind the prime minister's decision, and we've all got to get on with the job of investigating this problem that, as others have said, has gotten into the marrow of Australian society," he said.

Call for unity

NSW Jewish Board of Deputies chief executive Michele Goldman said only a federal inquiry would have the power to deliver the answers the community needed.

Michele Goldman says the royal commission is a powerful tool to examine antisemitism in Australia. (ABC News: Patrick Thomas)

"We need the power and independence of a royal commission to understand the failures that led to Bondi, the emergence of a climate that has allowed antisemitism to take root and fester, and the spread of ideological and religious extremism," she said.

"[There are] so many Australians whose sense of safety has been shattered. It is critical that Australia comes together now to understand how we can move forward.

"What will be important is that the commissioner [Virginia Bell] undertakes the royal commission examination with the rigour that is needed to maintain the confidence of all stakeholders, so we can get to the bottom of the failures that occurred and create a road map to help us move forward."

'Deeply frustrating'

David Baxby, the former Virgin Australia executive behind fundraising efforts and a petition for a royal commission, said he was frustrated at having to lobby the government.

"It's been deeply frustrating, and it's been quite a lot of work to get to where we've got to," he said.

David Baxby says it was frustrating having to petition the prime minister for a royal commission this week. (ABC News)

"And now we've been, quite frankly, overwhelmed by the level of community support ... we've raised $250,000 in the space of about 48 hours from 3,000 community members.

"But frankly, that should never be necessary."

His comments come after 10 business lobby groups also flagged their support for the prime minister's decision.

Anthony Albanese announced the royal commission after weeks of pressure from victims, sport stars and Jewish community groups. (ABC News)

In a joint statement released late Thursday afternoon, the groups said they welcomed the establishment of the royal commission.

"The establishment of a federal royal commission, led by former High Court justice, the Honourable Virginia Bell, recognises the importance of a coordinated, whole-of-nation response,"

the groups said.

Announcement made in 'record time', prime minister says

Mr Albanese has continued to defend the timing of his announcement, saying the decision was made following "considerable consultation" with victims' families.

"This is a record time, in fact, for a royal commission to be called. It normally will take a very long period of time," he said.

"We needed to make sure [the inquiry] didn't undermine social cohesion but helped to build social cohesion."

"We needed to make sure that we got the terms of reference right."

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13h agoFri 9 Jan 2026 at 12:34am

Press conference finishes

Isabella Ross

That's it now from the premier.

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