In this holiday episode of New Politics, we cut through the noise surrounding the call for a Royal Commission into the Bondi attack and ask whether this process is about accountability or political pressure. With an independent review already underway by respected former diplomat Dennis Richardson, examining the role of ASIO and the Australian Federal Police, is a Royal Commission necessary, and does it risk becoming a highly politicised exercise with unclear goals?
We look at how Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been placed in an impossible position, where any decision is framed as weakness, particularly given his past support for Palestine and his government’s recognition of the Palestinian state. Past tragedies like Port Arthur and the Lindt Café siege did not result in Royal Commissions – and nor have ongoing issues such as domestic violence against women and media ownership in Australia – which raises other questions about consistency and political selectivity.
It’s obvious that pro-Israel and Zionist lobby groups in Australia are using accusations of antisemitism to shut down debate, and this has a broader impact on free speech and political democratic decision-making. #AUSPOL
Song listing:
‘La Femme d’Argent’, AIR.
