Name: Business leaders call for a federal probe into Bondi attack
Uploaded: 2026-01-02T06:14:17.422Z
Duration: 2 min 24 s
Description: Billionaires and business leaders have added to the growing list of people calling for a Commonwealth royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack, but the Prime Minister is standing firm on not calling one.

Billionaires and business leaders have added to the growing list of people calling for a Commonwealth royal commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack, but the Prime Minister is standing firm on not calling one.

Bondi Beach

A group of over 100 business leaders, including prominent figures such as Alex Vinica, Philip Lowe, and James Packer, have signed an open letter demanding a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the Bondi Beach terror attack. They argue that the incident represents a national crisis requiring a unified response and criticize the federal government's reliance on existing state-level inquiries.

The Albanese government has declined to initiate a Commonwealth Royal Commission, citing four ongoing review processes, including a New South Wales Royal Commission. Despite growing public and business sector pressure, the government maintains that its current approach will provide the answers Australians seek.

Business leaders call for a federal probe into Bondi attack

Alex Vinica migrated from Ukraine to Australia as a teenager in 1994, building one of the country's largest investment management companies. Australia has always been the place that offered people tremendous opportunity. I have benefited from that enormously. But like so many Jewish Australians, the Bondi Beach terror attack has prompted calls for change. The Betashares CEO has joined more than 100 business leaders pushing for a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the atrocity. This is a national crisis which requires a national response. This is not a comfortable discussion for us to have as a nation. The arrival of hatred and the arrival of division on our shores is making all of us uncomfortable. Former Reserve Bank Governor Philip Lowe, billionaire James Packer, and former Network 10 CEO Hamish McLennan among those signing the open letter. The Prime Minister's instincts have been off on this. His instinct has been to try and keep a lid on things. He's got to take the lid off, he's got to take the pressure off and make a change. But for now, the Albanese government isn't budging, standing by a New South Wales Royal Commission and review by former Defence Secretary Dennis Richardson. The Prime Minister has pointed out on multiple occasions that there are four processes already underway. This Prime Minister is letting his ideology and his ego get in the road of what's doing right for the people of Australia. Australia's major employers have joined the fast and long growing list of those calling on a Commonwealth Royal Commission into the attack. Nine organisations including the Business Council argue workplaces are perhaps the greatest melting pots we have as a country. Without sustainably safe and cohesive workplaces and communities we cannot deliver prosperity for all Australians. Former Home Affairs boss Mike Pizzullo agrees, arguing a Commonwealth probe can be done quickly. Quickest Royal Commission undertaken under that Act? 25 days. As pressure grows by the day. He's become arrogant and ignorant to what Australians are calling on their Prime Minister to do. I understand why people want answers. We are determined as a government to give them those answers. Matthew Karstunen, 10 News.

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