Topics: Royal Commission into Antisemitism

DAVE SHARMA: I'm very pleased to see the Royal Commission into Anti-Semitism get underway today. This an important exercise, not only for the healing of our community after the horrific and worst ever terrorist attack in our history in Bondi. it's important for the safety of the Jewish community, but it's important for the safety of all Australians living in our country.

It's important to allow us to, people of different faiths and ethnicities and makeup to be able to get along with one another and to understand the basic civic norms and responsibilities and rules of order that unite us as a nation. I would remind everyone that this Royal Commission did not come easily.

And I want to play credit to the family members of the victims, many activists within the Jewish community, but more broadly across Australia, who urged, agitated and campaigned for this. And remember, Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party did not want this Commission to happen. Despite their attempts to rewrite history now, Anthony Albanese and his government fought it every step of the way, with every conceivable excuse under the sun.

They were not able to withstand the public pressure and public campaign in support of this Royal Commission though. And I'm pleased to see that today, at least the first step towards justice has been taken.

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JOURNALIST: Is the, is the length of time 10 months for this commission long enough and is it wholly content to try within time?

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DAVE SHARMA: I think it's important that this commission reports in a timely manner. And I think 10 months is perfectly adequate. I think if the Royal Commissioner, Ms. Bell seeks more time, I'm sure that's a request that the government would entertain. But I think that we need to remember that whilst this attack is fresh in our minds, that's when the impetus for changes that Australia will need to make is going to be most strong. that's why we need the Royal Commission to pursue its work as quickly as is, as feasible.

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JOURNALIST: In the hearing today, Virginia Bell said it was almost an inevitability that evidence from intelligence agencies would be delayed by being moved from an internal review under Dennis Richardson to a Royal Commission. Did you read that as a, a criticism of the Albanese government's construction of this inquiry? You know, first announcing that review and then kind of slotting it into the broader Royal Commission, but it's already causing problems.

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DAVE SHARMA: Well, look, clearly a Royal Commission has greater powers available to it than the internal review which was first announced by the Albanese government. And that's why, we in the coalition were calling for Royal Commission almost day two or day three. Now, I think her comments today reflect a state of the fact that the Richardson review had commenced its work before it was folded into a Royal Commission. But a Royal Commission will allow the compulsion of intelligence agencies, security agencies and others to provide information in a way that the Richardson review alone would not have. And for that reason, I think it's a positive step.

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JOURNALIST: What's your message to ASIO then? I mean, we've heard in that they're seeking some delay of the Richardson documents.

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DAVE SHARMA: Look, I don't have any doubt in the professionalism or commitment of our security agencies, including ASIO, to cooperate fully with this inquiry. Because they have as much interest in getting to the bottom of this, if you like as we do. Their job is to keep Australians safe. Their job is to protect nation. This Royal Commission will help them do their job, and I expect their entire cooperation.

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JOURNALIST: Should the interim report be delayed so it can fold in that evidence rather than having us wait until December?

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DAVE SHARMA: Look, I would defer to the judgment of Ms. Bell on that. If she thinks more time is required for the specific interrogation, if you like, of the Richardson review to allow the information to be arrived and to be more fully extracted, then I would respect that. I think it's more important we get this right that we are able to pursue every avenue of inquiry, that the Royal Commission is able to do its work exhaustively.

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JOURNALIST: Do you think the Prime Minister and other senior politicians should appear?

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DAVE SHARMA: Well, I think if Ms. Bell, I think Ms. Bell would be interested in the views of government. They've certainly provided conflicting accounts about the level of risk was that was known to them. I think it would be a welcome addition if Mr. Burke and perhaps other ministers appeared before the Royal Commission, yes. But ultimately, that's a decision and I don't want to pre-empt that. That would be a decision for the Royal Commission.

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[ENDS]