Attorney-General Michelle Rowland will introduce legislation she says she wants passed quickly so the current Bondi royal commission can be more effective. Photo: File.
Urgent legislation will be introduced to Federal Parliament to allow intelligence officers and other public servants to speak freely to the royal commission into the Bondi attack without fear of legal reprisals.
Labor will table the legislation after parliament returns in the first week of March and it doesn’t want a parliamentary inquiry into the bill, so that it can be passed quickly and be in effect for the current Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said her Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026 would strengthen legal protections for those providing intelligence and operational information to all royal commissions.
It would also bolster the ability of royal commissions to receive and handle operationally sensitive and intelligence information.
“The Albanese Government will introduce a new framework to ensure those providing intelligence or other sensitive operational information to royal commissions can do so with legal immunity,” the Attorney-General said.
“The changes will support the current royal commission in completing its important work, including the delivery of an interim report by 30 April.
“The royal commission is an important step for Australians to come together and learn following the heinous antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi.”
The bill seeks to establish immunity from secrecy provisions for people voluntarily providing information, as well as Commonwealth agencies providing information under compulsion to a royal commission.
The immunity will be available where information is provided in accordance with publicly available arrangements between the royal commission and relevant security agencies.
Ms Rowland said the legislation had been carefully worked through with the Office of the Royal Commission, relevant security agencies and her Attorney-General’s Department.
“We are consulting across the parliament and we’ve released the statement … saying that we are going to bring this forward as a matter of urgency,” she said.
“I think it’s the interest of all of the parliament to support this. We’ve been working closely with the royal commission so that it’s got all the tools that it needs to discharge its functions …
“Given the subject matter, it is really critical that our national intelligence community can provide that information to the royal commission, either voluntarily or compulsorily, without the concern that that’s going to enliven criminal secrecy offences.
“I just point out, I think every Australian wants this royal commission to succeed. I think every parliamentarian does.
“So, I am hopeful that there will be constructive engagement across the Parliament to have this passed as a matter of urgency.
“We don’t think there is a need for a separate parliamentary inquiry. But again, these are matters which we will discuss directly with counterparts right across the parliament and prosecute that case.”
The amendments provide a clear lawful pathway to provide information to a royal commission without being restricted by secrecy provisions in Commonwealth legislation.
The Federal Government has previously said it supports reform to secrecy offences and while work has been under way for some time, these particular amendments have been expedited to ensure the current royal commission can be as effective as possible.
The Opposition has repeated its call for Anthony Albanese to appear before the Bondi royal commission.
Shadow attorney-general Michaelia Cash said the Prime Minister should immediately confirm that he and his ministers would give evidence.
“The Coalition welcomes the opening hearing of the royal commission and Commissioner the Hon Virginia Bell AC SC’s opening statement,” Senator Cash said.
“It is not clear if the Royal Commissioner intends to call on ministers of the Commonwealth to give evidence, given the Commissioner’s statement that said no person will be pressured to give evidence.
“Mr Albanese should immediately write to the Royal Commissioner, requesting that he and his ministers appear as witnesses at the royal commission.
“It is critical for the royal commission to properly assess the government’s actions in the lead up and in response to the massacre.
“The only way to genuinely and fully examine and confront the drivers of antisemitism and extremism is to include the scrutiny and conduct of the Albanese Government and its ministers.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
