NSW may launch separate inquiry into Bondi Beach massacre police response

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the state may conduct a separate inquiry into the Bondi terror attack, focusing on the police response to the December 14 massacre, running in parallel to a Federal royal commission under former judge Virginia Bell.

“I’ve got confidence in the royal commission, but there may be elements that need to be investigated quickly as it relates to New South Wales issues,” he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

“For purposes of full disclosure, I’m not ruling out having our own inquiry, obviously not a royal commission, about specific issues to do with New South Wales if we need quick answers.”

On Thursday, the NSW Government cancelled plans for a royal commission into Australia’s worst terrorist attack after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a Commonwealth royal commission would be headed by Ms Bell, a retired High Court judge.

With NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon extending protest bans for another fortnight across the State, Mr Minns confirmed a review was underway into barrister Phillip Boulten’s appointment to the NSW Supreme Court.

The lawyer has been involved with the Labor Friends of Palestine group and called Jillian Segal, the Commonwealth’s special envoy into anti-Semitism, “the deplorable racist Segal”.

“My concerns are not so much about that as the comments that he’s made on social media and I think that is a question of temperament, the comments themselves as well as potential conflicts of interest arising from cases presented to the court,” Mr Minns said.

“We’re seeking advice in relation to that appointment. The status of it is unusual in that he hasn’t been confirmed to the court yet but has been recommended to the Governor (Margaret Beasley).”

Police presence at Bondi

Mr Minns declined to reveal the scope or focus on the State’s potential inquiry into the massacre but said it would not be conducted by members of Parliament.

An inquest was held into the December 2014 Lindt cafe siege in Sydney, at the hands of Islamist gunman Man Haron Monis, but a special commission of inquiry could potentially be held into the Bondi massacre that killed 15 innocent people on the first day of the Hanukkah Jewish holiday.

“I’m not announcing that today but in the interests of full transparency, there may be an issue we need urgent advice on and it’s best it’s investigated by an independent person and we will reserve the right to do that in the future,” Mr Minns said.

“I don’t want that to read that we’ve got any concerns about a Commonwealth royal commission. There are certain issues that are particular to New South Wales, particularly in relation to police activity on the day, the number of police, ongoing security for the Jewish community that might require a quicker determination.”

The Premier backed the PM’s backflip after Mr Albanese had for more than three weeks rebuffed calls for a Federal royal commission.

“I think there should be more space for political leaders to change their minds,” he said. “If they’re spoken to in a passionate way by victims, survivors and families about the need to get to the bottom of it, I think that that’s a good thing in public life.”