Former Labor MP says only a royal commission into Bondi attack ‘would offer legal protections for officials’

A former Labor MP says only a royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack would offer legal protections for officials wanting to speak freely about gaps within Australia’s security agencies.

Mike Kelly was among more than 20 Labor figures who penned an open letter to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling for a rethink on his response to the December 14 massacre.

The former army colonel and current co-convener of Labor friends of Israel said former royal commissioners into Australia’s defence agencies had given people “behind closed doors, classified, and secured hearings” which allowed for a comprehensive review.

“I know there are Commonwealth officers who will not want to speak fully and openly unless they have the legal protections of a Commonwealth Royal Commission,” he said.

“I’ve had colleagues in the past, for example, in relation to the Iraq War, who wanted to say a lot of things about that situation, but were denied the opportunity. They weren’t going to speak to the media, and they wanted that protection.”

The Labor members join a chorus of voices, which includes business leaders, sporting stars, a former Chief Justice of the High Court, and former Governor General, to call for a federal probe.

Mr Albanese has instead commissioned former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson to undertake a snap review which would report back within months. It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns has committed to a State-level Royal Commission.

Mr Kelly also hinted at a growing list of current Labor MPs joining the swell of support for the Commonwealth probe.

“Yes, this is really working on two levels,” he said, when asked about the appetite within sitting members during a Canberra press conference on Tuesday.

“There have been, obviously, former MPs… But there are also people, because of their positions or their previous roles, feel more comfortable dealing with this issue privately, so they have indicated that they’re going to take this up with the Prime Minister and ministers separately and properly,” he told a Canberra press conference.”

Labor Minister Tim Ayres said while he understood there were “good-herated people” who wanted action and answers, it was the Albanese government’s view a royal commission was “not necessary”.

“There is work to do with the intelligence agencies that work is on-foot now. It’s on foot now, not being delayed by two and a half years of a royal commission that, in our view, is not necessary to get the work done,” he told Sky News on Tuesday.

Senator Ayres in late December had also said a royal commission would be “symbolic” and cause “division and delay” despite the families of victims pleading for one.

Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Wallace accused Labor of “living in absolute denial” and highlighted that “every coroner of Australian society” has come forward to call for a royal commission.

The Liberal MP said Labor could refine the terms of reference rather than opting for their current approach of an independent inquiry, which could be a “half-baked job”.

“The Labor Party is living in absolute denial, as is the Prime Minister,” he said.

“Only a royal commission can get to the bottom of what happened on the December 14 that led to Australia’s worst terrorist attack in history.

“Only a royal commission, our preeminent form of inquiry in this country, has the ability to be able to subpoena documents, to be able to compel people to come before it and give evidence.

“It’s not just the Coalition. It seems to be that it’s in almost every corner of Australian society. Everybody is saying it. But the Labor Party, the unions and the Greens.”