Bondi Attack Inquiry: Review or Royal Commission?

Calls for a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack are intensifying, as debate continues over whether the federal government's proposed response goes far enough.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has maintained that an independent review of federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies - alongside a New South Wales royal commission - will deliver answers more quickly and effectively than a standalone Commonwealth inquiry.

The federal review will be led by former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Dennis Richardson, and will assess whether intelligence and policing agencies acted appropriately in the lead-up to the attack.

Mr Albanese has also pledged full Commonwealth cooperation with a state-based royal commission, which NSW Premier Chris Minns says will establish how the attack occurred and what measures are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

Despite this, criticism of the government's approach continues to grow. Jewish organisations, families of victims, the Coalition, the Human Rights Commissioner and a widening group of public figures argue the proposed inquiries lack the scope and authority of a federal royal commission.

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley last week released draft terms of reference for a Commonwealth inquiry, arguing a state-led process would be unable to properly examine national security failures, migration and visa settings, and other federal responsibilities.

Pressure intensified further on Friday when more than 120 business leaders and public figures signed an open letter calling for a federal royal commission, a position also supported by several former Victorian premiers.

What the federal review would examine

The Richardson-led review will focus on whether federal intelligence and law enforcement agencies performed effectively in the context of the Bondi attack, in which two alleged gunmen, Sajid and Naveed Akram, targeted a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.

Authorities allege the father-and-son pair were motivated by the ideology of the self-proclaimed Islamic State group.

The review will assess what information federal agencies held about the alleged offenders, how agencies shared intelligence with each other and with state authorities, and whether additional steps could have been taken to prevent the attack. It will also examine whether existing laws limited the agencies' ability to intervene.

Scope of the NSW royal commission

While the NSW government has not yet finalised a timeline, Mr Minns says work is underway to establish terms of reference as quickly as possible.

The inquiry is expected to examine how the attack occurred and identify ways to reduce the risk of future incidents. The commission will have access to officials from other jurisdictions and the heads of federal agencies, with the Commonwealth committing to full participation.

How long could inquiries take?

The Richardson review is due to report to the federal government by the end of April. Mr Albanese has argued a royal commission could take several years to deliver findings.

However, former NSW Supreme Court judge Anthony Whealy disputes that claim, saying an inquiry of this complexity would likely take at least two years - significantly less than the four or five years sometimes required for commissions with broader mandates.