By Samantha Lock and Grace Crivellaro
More than 60 Australian sports leaders have added their voice to growing demands for a national royal commission into anti-Semitism and the Bondi terror attack.
The prominent stars, which include Olympians and AFL coaches, became the latest figures on Sunday to call for a federal inquiry, stating Australia’s safety and social cohesion had been ruptured by the massacre.
“This attack did not occur in isolation. It followed more than two years of escalating extremism, intimidation and unchecked radicalisation within Australia,” they said in a joint statement on Sunday.
“Across generations, we have stood for fairness, respect, equality and the principle that every Australian – no matter who they are – deserves safety, dignity and the freedom to live without fear.”
The statement was co-ordinated by Olympians, including former hockey player Nova Peris and former swimmers Grant Hackett and Ian Thorpe.
Other signatories include NRL commentator Brad Fittler, former swimmers Michael Klim and Dawn Fraser, tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, and surfer Mick Fanning.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has so far resisted calls from 17 families related to the victims, hundreds of top legal minds, Jewish groups, and more than 100 business leaders for a federal royal commission.
Mr Albanese instead announced the Richardson Review, which will be led by former ASIO boss Dennis Richardson who will examine law enforcement and security agencies’ responses to the massacre.
He insists a Commonwealth royal commission would not deliver the urgent response needed after the two gunmen shot Hanukkah festival revellers, killing 15 and injuring dozens more on December 14.
But the public calls have persisted, despite Mr Albanese stating a national royal commission is not an efficient way to deal with intelligence matters.
The latest joint statement went on to say that the “eyes of the world will soon be upon Australia” for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and that safety and integrity of public spaces have never mattered more.
“A royal commission is the most credible and unifying pathway to understanding what went wrong, ensuring accountability, restoring social harmony and taking Australia forward with a meaningful, practical plan of action,” it said.
Meanwhile, crowds flocking to the final Ashes Test on Sunday can rest assured that the sold-out event will be safe, according to one of Australia’s top counter-terrorism officers.
Heavily-armed uniformed and mounted police, along with public order and riot squad officers, will patrol the Sydney Cricket Ground match.
Some will be equipped with long-arm rifles and conduct high-visibility patrols.
NSW Police counter-terrorism squad boss Assistant Commissioner Leanne McCusker said arming officers with the weapons was not due to a specific threat.
“I want to emphasise that there is not any active or imminent threat,” she said.
The measures mirror those for the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, where specialist police were armed with semi-automatic rifles and patrolled the busy stadium, a nearby park and railway hub.
Victims of the Bondi massacre, first responders and community members will be honoured with an on-field tribute set to include a guard of honour and a round of applause recognising the efforts and service of emergency response agencies and community members.
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