Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a royal commission into the Bondi Beach shooting that occurred last month, an attack that resulted in 15 deaths. The announcement, made Thursday in Canberra, reverses Albanese's previous stance that reforms to gun ownership, hate speech laws, and reviews of intelligence and law enforcement agencies would provide a more expedient response.

Albanese stated that the decision to launch the royal commission, the country's most powerful form of independent inquiry, came after a period of reflection and meetings with members of the Jewish community, who were the target of the December 14 attack during a Jewish festival. "I've repeatedly said that our government's priority is to promote unity and social cohesion, and this is what Australia needs to heal, to learn, to come together in a spirit of national unity," Albanese told reporters. "It's clear to me that a royal commission is essential to achieving this."

The Bondi shooting, one of the deadliest in Australian history, has prompted widespread debate about security measures, the rise of antisemitism, and the effectiveness of existing laws. Royal commissions in Australia are often established to investigate matters of significant public importance, granting them extensive powers to compel testimony and access documents. Their findings can lead to policy changes and legal reforms.

The decision to launch a royal commission follows weeks of mounting public pressure from the families of victims and community leaders, who argued that a comprehensive and independent inquiry was necessary to fully understand the circumstances surrounding the attack and to prevent future tragedies. The attack has resonated internationally, highlighting concerns about rising extremism and the safety of religious minorities in various countries.

The specific terms of reference for the royal commission are expected to be released in the coming days. The commission will likely examine the adequacy of security arrangements at the festival, the response of law enforcement agencies, and the role of online hate speech in inciting violence. The findings of the royal commission will be closely watched both in Australia and internationally, as countries grapple with similar challenges related to security, social cohesion, and the protection of vulnerable communities.