This week in Australian foreign affairs: Government establishes Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion following Bondi terrorist attack; Parliament recalled for national security legislation; Prime Minister and Foreign Minister announce Ambassador Kevin Rudd to conclude US posting, and more.
On 8 January, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland announced the establishment of a Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion in response to the Bondi terrorist attack. The Government asked Former High Court Justice the Hon Virginia Bell AC to serve as Commissioner. Commissioner Bell has been asked to report before the end of the year and to ensure the inquiry does not prejudice any future criminal proceedings. The Royal Commission will cover four key areas: tackling antisemitism by investigating its nature and prevalence in institutions and society; making recommendations to assist law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies; examining the circumstances surrounding the antisemitic Bondi terrorist attack on 14 December 2025; and making recommendations for strengthening social cohesion in Australia and countering the spread of ideologically and religiously motivated extremism. Dennis Richardson’s Independent Commonwealth Review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies will become part of the Commission, with delivery of an Interim Report by April. Prime Minister Albanese emphasized that “an attack on Jewish Australians, is an attack on all Australians,” noting that a Royal Commission is not the beginning or the end of what Australia must do to eradicate antisemitism, protect against terrorism or strengthen social cohesion.
On 10 January, Foreign Minister Penny Wong joined the Foreign Ministers of Canada and the European Union in issuing a joint statement on the situation in Iran. The Foreign Ministers commended the bravery of the Iranian people as they stand up for their dignity and their fundamental right to peaceful protest. The statement strongly condemned the killing of protestors, the use of violence, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics by the Iranian regime against its own people. The Ministers called on Iran to immediately end the use of excessive and lethal force by its security forces including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Basij against protestors, noting that over 40 lives have already been lost. The statement emphasized that the Iranian regime has the responsibility to protect its own population and must allow for the freedom of expression and peaceful assembly without fear of reprisal.
On 12 January, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke and Attorney-General Michelle Rowland announced that Federal Parliament will be recalled to deal with important national security legislation in the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack. The House of Representatives will sit on Monday 19 January and Tuesday 20 January. The first order of business will be a condolence motion to remember those who lost their lives and those whose lives were forever changed by this antisemitic terrorist attack, with agreement reached with the Opposition on the wording. Parliament will then deal with the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026, a comprehensive package of reforms that creates serious offences for hate preachers and leaders seeking to radicalise children; increases penalties for hate crimes offences; ensures offenders whose crimes were motivated by extremism have that factored into sentencing; creates a new offence for inciting hatred to intimidate or harass; expands and strengthens the ban on prohibited symbols; makes it easier for the Minister for Home Affairs to cancel or refuse visas for people who want to spread hatred; creates a new framework to enable the listing of organisations as ‘Prohibited Hate Groups’; and sets up the National Gun Buyback Scheme. The Bill will be referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for inquiry. Prime Minister Albanese stated that “the terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds – and lethal weapons in their hands. These reforms deal with both.”
On 13 January, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that the Hon Dr Kevin Rudd AC will conclude his posting as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States at the end of March 2026. Dr. Rudd has decided to accept the role of global President of leading international relations think tank, the Asia Society, which has recently become vacant and which Dr. Rudd headed between 2021-2023. Dr. Rudd will also head the Society’s Centre for China Analysis. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister expressed deep appreciation for Dr. Rudd’s tireless contribution to Australia’s national interests over the last three years in Washington. Since Dr. Rudd commenced in March 2023, he has led the Australian Embassy’s work to advance Australia’s interests in the United States, including securing US Congressional authorising legislation for AUKUS with full bipartisan support; negotiating and concluding the Critical Minerals and Rare Earths Framework Agreement with the US; securing agreement to negotiate a bilateral critical technology agreement; turbocharging US engagement with Australia’s superannuation industry; working to secure Julian Assange’s return to Australia in 2024; introducing Global Entry and Transportation Security Administration services for all Australian travellers to the US; and developing relationships across the Trump and Biden Administrations, Republican and Democrat congressional leadership, and key stakeholders in the defence, intelligence and corporate communities. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister also recognised the outstanding work of Ms Therese Rein, thanking her for her invaluable contribution to advancing Australia’s interests in the US. An announcement regarding Australia’s new Ambassador to the United States will take place in due course.
Emily Mosley is the Projects and Publications Manager for the AIIA National Office.
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