Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a review into Australia’s federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, in the wake of last week’s Bondi Beach mass shooting terror attack.
One of the gunmen in the attack, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, first came to the attention of Australia’s intelligence agency ASIO in 2019, Albanese confirmed last week. “He was examined on the basis of being associated with others and the assessment was made that there was no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence.”
As investigations into the attack continue, it is understood Naveed and his 50-year-old father, Sajid Akram, were inspired by “Islamic State ideology”.
Australian police also confirmed that both men had traveled to the Philippines last month, with Philippines immigration officials revealing that they travelled to Manila and Davao. The purpose of their trip is still under investigation. Islamic State-linked networks are known to operate in the Philippines.
The Daily Telegraph also reported that an “ISIS style propaganda” video showing the men expressing extremist views was seized by police from their Campsie sharehouse. It is unclear if the video was filmed before or after the Philippines trip.
“The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet will examine whether federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies have the right powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe in the wake of the horrific antisemitic Bondi Beach terrorist attack,” Albanese said in a statement.
“The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation. Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond.”
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The review will be led by Dennis Richardson – former Secretary of the Department of Defence, former Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and former Intelligence Chief. It will build on the work of the Independent Intelligence Review, conducted by Richard Maude and Heather Smith.
The review will be provided to the Government by the end of April 2026 and will be made publicly available.
The mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach last week (December 14th) left 16 dead, including Sajid.
Over 40 people were hospitalised following the attack, including two police officers and a bystander identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, who tackled and disarmed the 50-year-old gunman. Naveed was wounded, and has been in hospital under police guard.
Albanese has also announced the launch of a new gun buyback scheme in response to the attack, in what he says will be the biggest collection of weapons since the Port Arthur massacre nearly 30 years ago. Costs for the buyback, which is expected to see hundreds of thousands of weapons destroyed, will be split between the federal government and the states, Albanese said on Friday.
At the same time, NSW Parliament will sit this week in the lead up to Christmas to introduce legislation cracking down on gun ownership and licensing in the state, after it was confirmed the firearms used by Sajid and Naveed were legally licensed.
Announced last week, NSW Premier Chris Minns said he is “determined to introduce the toughest gun legislation in the country”, adding that he believes “it needs to be passed and put into legislation as soon as possible”.
To obtain a firearms licence in NSW, an applicant must demonstrate a “genuine reason” for owning a gun. Accepted reasons include recreational hunting, sport or target shooting, primary production, business or employment, and collecting under strict conditions. For recreational hunting or shooting, one of the most common pathways is membership of an approved gun or hunting club, which Sajid had, which satisfies the legal requirement.
