Richardson urges urgent action on Bondi security failings after quitting

Former spy chief Dennis Richardson said improvements to public safety and intelligence in the wake of the Bondi attack "cannot wait until December" after he resigned from the royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion. Richardson, a former director-general of Asio and ambassador to the US, made the remarks on an ABC podcast and urged urgent attention to matters affecting community safety.

He disagreed with commission head Virginia Bell over the timetable for examining potential failures in security arrangements and the work of intelligence and law enforcement agencies. Bell had said delays in obtaining and assessing material made it unlikely the inquiry could hear evidence about the event’s security and agency work before an interim report due next month; Richardson said any recommendations touching on intelligence and law enforcement should be passed to government at the earliest opportunity.

Australia, Bondi

dennis richardson, bondi attack, virginia bell, royal commission, antisemitism, social cohesion, asio, intelligence agencies, law enforcement, public safety