The Community Security Group, a Jewish community security organisation, said in its assessment that “a terrorist attack against the NSW Jewish community is likely.” However, the Royal Commission interim report stated there was “no issue requiring urgent or immediate action,” according to major media reports.
The report pointed to a counter-terrorism system with many committees but insufficient coordination, according to major media. It identified concerns about information sharing within the NSW Joint Counter-Terrorism Team and noted that the Commonwealth Counter-Terrorism Coordinator role, held by Hamish Hansford, was not a full-time position at the time of the Bondi attack. The Chanukah by the Sea event was assigned three general duties officers and a supervisor, major media reported.
The interim report made 14 recommendations, with recommendations 8-12 confidential. Key recommendations include applying Operation Jewish High Holy Days procedures to other high-risk Jewish events (recommendation 1), making the Counter-Terrorism Coordinator role full-time (recommendation 2), and including ANZCTC in the Australian Government Crisis Management Framework if used as a crisis committee (recommendation 3). Other recommendations call for updating the Counter-Terrorism Handbook every three years (recommendation 4), requiring ANZCTC to provide annual briefings to National Cabinet (recommendation 5), commissioning a review of Joint Counter-Terrorism Teams (recommendation 6), and having National Security Committee ministers participate in a counter-terrorism exercise after each election (recommendation 7). Recommendation 13 urges prioritising the finalisation of the National Firearms Agreement.
The report has been accused by unnamed critics of failing to address Islamist extremism, major media reported. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was booed when he visited the scene after the attack. The report did not specify whether the attacker was motivated by Islamist extremism or what actions the government will take in response.