Australia PM announces intelligence review as nation mourns Bundy attack

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a review of police and national intelligence agencies following last weekend’s Bondi Beach attack.

“The atrocities committed by ISIS last Sunday have heightened our country’s rapidly changing security environment,” Albanese said, using the acronym for the Islamic State group. “Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond.”

A national day of reflection was held on Sunday to mourn the 15 people who died after two gunmen opened fire on a Sydney beach during a Jewish holiday.

Amid tight security, a minute’s silence will be observed at 18:47 pm local time (07:47 GMT), marking a week after the shooting.

police charges The attack on December 14They declared it a terrorist incident, committed by a father and son inspired by “Islamic State ideology.”

Navid Akram, 24, Charged with 59 crimesincluding 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act. His father Sajid was killed in the attack.

Albanese said the intelligence review would take place in April 2026 and would focus on ensuring authorities are capable of dealing with extremism.

“The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will review whether federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the appropriate powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe following the horrific anti-Semitic terror attack on Bondi Beach,” he said.

After Australia’s worst mass shooting in nearly three decades, the government announced Plan to tighten gun controlwhile New South Wales is working to combat hate speech.

As part of a national day of reflection, a memorial service will be held for Bundy later Sunday, a week after the tragedy.

Earlier in the day, Governor-General Samantha Mostyn spoke at a Bondi vigil hosted by the National Council of Jewish Women of Australia, where attendees mostly wore white, a symbol of peace.

“Across the Jewish community, whether in Bondi or across our country, you are part of the story of belonging and success in this country,” she said.

Australians across the country remain in shock and disbelief that something like this could happen.

But this weekend, it was back to normal in some ways. Bondi Promenade is once again packed with surfers, runners and dog walkers as normal life returns.

While the somber mood lingers, children’s surf club activities – known locally as “nippers” – resumed on Sunday in a sign of community resilience.

North Bondi Surf Lifesaving Association president Steve Larnach told the BBC they had considered canceling regular surf lifesaving events.

“We are also aware of the sensitivities of our Jewish community,” Larnach said. “We did ask them for their input and they were very supportive of us moving forward but also very appreciative of what we were doing.”

Lanark said volunteer lifeguards were among the first on the scene to provide first aid during last week’s shooting.

Some surf lifesavers were hailed as heroes, with one pictured sprinting from a nearby beach with a red first aid kit slung over his shoulder.

Geraldine Nordfelft, who took her daughter to the fitter, said it was “very important to get back to this new normal as quickly as possible”.

“You have to return, you can’t leave, you can’t let fear win. The beach is the Australian way of life and we all love it,” she told the BBC.