Sue Smethurst

Prime Minister, your announcement today of an internal departmental review of law enforcement and intelligence agencies is wholly inadequate. To use an Australian colloquialism its bullshit. It’s weak, it’s wrong, it’s an abrogation of your first and fundamental duty to protect all Australian citizens after the deadliest terrorist attack on Australian soil at Bondi beach. Your departmental review will not go to the heart of the issues and the radicalisation within our country, which has been allowed to explode on your watch. Prime Minister what are you afraid a Commonwealth Royal Commission will uncover? The Commonwealth must take the lead with the most comprehensive, powerful Royal Commission possible. You supported Royal Commissions into the banks, veterans, aged care and welfare system. Now 15 innocent souls including 10 year old Matilda have been murdered by radical Islamists and all you are prepared to commit to is an internal departmental review? It beggars belief and is the latest failure in federal leadership. It’s not good enough to pass the buck to NSW whose Premier has already indicated he will hold a Royal Commission. Why is a Royal Commisson good enough for NSW but not the Federal Government? No one could think that the extremist threat is limited to NSW. These are federal offences, federal responsibilities and failures at the federal level. The threat is national. You yourself have said that this terrorist attack was inspired by the Islamic State, you cannot legitimately conclude that this is a matter to be covered by a state based Royal Commission. Anti-Jew intimidation, harassment and violence has metastasised in our country and must not be allowed to go one day longer. The tsunami of hate is not just an attack on Jewish Australians, it’s a threat to every Australian. Prime Minister enough is enough!

How can anyone take Australian politics seriously ?