The Nightly | 1 MAY 2026
LATIKA M BOURKE: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged to act after interim Bondi terror attack report
By Latika M Bourke
From The Nightly
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is facing renewed pressure to move beyond words and act on anti-Semitism following a royal commission interim report into the Bondi terror attack.
Tahli Blicblau, CEO of the Dor Foundation — an anti-Semitism organisation established last year with the help of former treasurer Josh Frydenberg, told The Nightly that the Royal Commission’s interim report and findings were a welcome move, but only the start.
“We’re looking at this report as a point in time, as chapter one in a much longer story in a much longer book,” Ms Blicblau said.
“What it does do is clearly identify systemic failures in the system that were designed to protect Australians — our counter-terrorism infrastructure didn’t work as it was supposed to on the 14th of December.”
The report showed that CSG NSW, the Jewish community security organisation, had assessed that the likelihood of a terror attack against NSW Jews was likely.
CSG security guards and volunteers manned the event but are banned by NSW law from carrying guns.
Six days before the event, CSG NSW emailed NSW Police “requesting deployment of resources for the entirety of the event”.
“NSW Police stated that the event organiser was responsible for security for Chanukah by the Sea, and any police involvement was supplementary and focused on maintaining public order and community safety,” the Interim Report said.
“Information provided by NSW Police is that three general duties officers and one supervisor were allocated to the Chanukah by the Sea event and that the Eastern Suburbs PAC Commander attended the event at ‘various times’.”
Ms Blicblau questioned whether ASIO’s many warnings about an attack on Jewish Australians was properly absorbed by the system.
“Unfortunately, I think there are more questions than answers right now, but it’s a great step forward, it’s welcome,” she said.
“The big question to ask is whether ASIO’s National Threat Assessment was properly operationalised by the New South Wales police. It’s clear that the Jewish community had raised the alarm bells and had asked for support.
“It’s clear that ASIO had identified the threats, whether or not that was operationalised appropriately is a fair question to ask.
“I’m not sure that the report goes all the way to answering that question, and I’ll be very interested to hear what comes out as the commission continues to explore that further.”
She said the report had vindicated the many concerns voiced by the Jewish community about the escalation of anti-Semitic events, from online hate, to doxxing, to property damage, to fire bombings and then the attack.
“It certainly vindicates the cries for help in the context of that worsening environment,” she said.
She added that it vital for the commission to outline how to tackle the drivers of anti-Semitism.
“There are clear recommendations that can be adopted immediately and they should, I know the Government has accepted them, but we’re calling for not just acceptance but also for immediate action.
“The recommendations have been accepted on day one, so there’s not much more we can ask for but the test is going to be in actioning them.”