PM says government has been working on inquiry logistics 'for weeks' – as it happened

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Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion. The decision comes amid widespread criticism of laws restricting protest actions following the December 2022 Bondi attack.

Albanese said he made this call after weeks of work on the inquiry logistics. He stated that the commission would be chaired by Virginia Bell, a retired high court judge with experience in the criminal law.

The federal government has been criticized for its handling of recent terrorist incidents and laws restricting protest actions, particularly those targeting migrants. Albanese announced that he welcomed Labor's decision to establish a royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion.

However, the New South Wales opposition has welcomed this announcement as "long-overdue" while also calling it a step towards addressing the growing issue of antisemitism in Australia.

It is expected that the terms of reference for the federal inquiry will be discussed soon and parliament may begin debating them prior to January 26th.

Meanwhile, bushfires are raging across Victoria with multiple emergency warnings issued for out-of-control fires at Longwood and 25km west of Walwa. Dozens of regional townships have been urged to evacuate or take cover.
 
[gif: a picture of a person crying, with the words "Royal Commission" written in bold letters above them] 🤷‍♂️😩

[icon: a bushfire emoji, with a caption below it "Meanwhile..."] 🚒🔥

[gif: Anthony Albanese giving a thumbs up, with a speech bubble saying "Long-overdue"] 👍💯
 
🤔 Honestly, a royal commission about antisemitism and social cohesion is like throwing a blanket over a whole lot of problems that are kinda connected but mostly separate things 🧵. I mean, let's be real, we're talking about laws restricting protest actions here, which is more of an issue about free speech and public health, than actual antisemitism... unless you're a migrant with a different opinion, in which case, good luck 😒. Anyway, fingers crossed they get the logistics right and it's not just another PR stunt 🙏.
 
I feel like we're back in the '90s when our government was all about promoting unity and inclusivity 🙏. Now, it seems like things are getting a bit more serious with this royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion. I mean, can you believe it? A royal commission! That's some old-school stuff right there 😂. But seriously, I'm glad to see Anthony Albanese taking action after all the criticism he's faced.

It's kinda like what happened back in 2001 when the government established the National Apologies Day for our indigenous mates 🌿. We were finally acknowledging the harm caused by our history and moving forward. Fingers crossed that this royal commission will lead to some real change and not just more talk 🗣️.

But, oh man, bushfires in Victoria? That's a harsh reminder of how fast things can go from good to bad 🔥. Can we please just get all the politics out of the way for once so we can focus on saving our homes and communities? 😩
 
🤔 gotta say, this royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion is a good start 🙌. it's long overdue, right? the way australia has handled protest laws and terrorist incidents in the past has been super sketchy 😒. but, you know, it's not like they're doing it to make things better or anything... still gonna be some controversy around this 💡. i'm curious to see how it all plays out! 🤷‍♀️ by the way, have you seen those bushfires raging across victoria? so scary 🌪️. hope everyone gets out safely 😔
 
Just when you think things can't get any more intense in Australia... 😬 But seriously, a royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion is like, totally needed! I mean, who doesn't want their community to be a safe space for everyone? 🤝 And to have a retired high court judge chairing it? 💯 That's a great starting point. I'm all about supporting measures that promote unity and understanding, especially when we're seeing so much division lately.

But let's keep things in perspective... bushfires are still raging across Victoria! 😱 Like, can't our country handle both these issues at the same time? 🤯 It's clear that there's still a lot of work to be done on all fronts. Fingers crossed for a smooth transition and some serious progress on this antisemitism commission. 💪
 
.. the Aussies finally taking this antisemitism issue seriously 🙌! I mean, it's about time they do something about all those protests getting restricted, especially after that Bondi attack in Dec 22... like, totally unacceptable 💔. A royal commission is a great move, gettin' some proper experts on board to figure out what's goin' on and how to fix it. I'm all for Virginia Bell leadin' the charge, she sounds like a total rockstar judge 🤓. And yeah, Labor's been pretty vocal about this too... good on 'em! The NSW opposition is hyped about it bein' "long-overdue" tbh, and I don't blame 'em, mate 👊. Now let's just hope they get the terms of reference sorted out ASAP so we can actually see some action happen 🕒️.
 
I think its about time Australia took this seriously 🙏. The whole thing with the protest laws feels so extreme and its only getting worse since those attacks went down in December last year. I mean, we need to protect free speech but we also gotta make sure everyone can feel safe without being targeted for who they are or what they believe. A royal commission is a good start - it's not a silver bullet, but it's a step in the right direction 🤞. We should be proud of Australia for finally taking concrete action on this issue and hopefully its just the beginning of real change 💪
 
I don't think this is a good idea at all 🤔... wait, no I do! I mean, the fact that there's been so much criticism about protest laws and the Bondi attack makes sense for me to agree with it now 😊... but what if it just delays the real changes? 🤷‍♂️ Anyway, a retired high court judge chairing it is a good choice, I guess 👎. And it's about time we addressed antisemitism in Australia – like, seriously, who hasn't heard of that being an issue by now 😳... but on the other hand, maybe this is just going to create more bureaucracy and stuff 🙄. Oh, and can we please focus on something else for a sec? Those bushfires are terrifying! 🚒
 
🌟 just saw this news and gotta say its about time Australia took steps towards addressing antisemitism and social cohesion! I mean, its not like the government has been ignoring these issues for years... 🙄 the fact that a royal commission is being set up is a huge step forward. I'm hoping it'll lead to some real change and not just more talks 💬. The timing also couldn't be better, with all these incidents of terrorism and protest restrictions going on. It's clear we need some serious reform 🚧. And on a completely different note, bushfires in Victoria? Are we really experiencing this every year?! 🌳🔥 need to do more to protect our environment and prevent these disasters.
 
You know, I'm thinking, a royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion is like trying to hold water in your hands - the more you try to grasp it, the more it slips away. It's like we're constantly reacting to the latest wave of incidents, rather than addressing the underlying issues that make people feel marginalized or fearful. I mean, what does a royal commission really do? Just provides a platform for people to air their grievances? Or is it about creating a sense of accountability and healing? And what about the complexities of social cohesion - isn't it like trying to find common ground on shifting sands? 🤔
 
🌴 think it's a good move by the gov, gotta acknowledge the issues with protest laws & antisemitism 😔. hope this royal commission does some real digging into these problems, not just a bunch of lip service 🤷‍♂️. 25 bushfires raging in Vic is another thing tho, hope ppl are safe 💕. think Australia's got enough on its plate without having to worry about fires & protest laws too 🙄
 
🔥 "The biggest threat to our democracy is the lack of critical thinking." People should be able to express their opinions without fear of violence or repercussions, that's why this royal commission is so important! 🤝 It's about time someone took a stand against hate and worked towards creating a more inclusive society. But let's also hope that they can tackle the root causes of these issues and not just treat the symptoms. 💡
 
🤣 can you believe Australia's got royal commissions coming outta the woodwork like they're trying to fix everything? first it was the antisemitism thing, now bushfires and I'm waiting for 'em to announce a commission on climate change 😂💨. seriously though, it's good that Albanese is taking action on antisemitism and social cohesion, but can we please focus on the real issues like the bushfires? 🚒🔥 at least they won't give you a headache, unlike some governments' handling of protests 🤦‍♂️.
 
🤷‍♀️ like that the govt is finally doing something about antisemitism, but I mean, a royal commission is gonna be super boring to watch, lol... can't say I'm surprised though, it's about time someone did something about all the drama going on in this country 🙄. And btw, 25km west of Walwa? who even goes there? like, what's the point of even having a warning if no one lives out there anyway 🤣.
 
just hope this royal commission does bring some real change to Australia 🤞. been hearing so much about antisemitism and social cohesion issues for ages, and it's about time something is done about it 💪. love that Virginia Bell is leading the charge - she seems like a total rockstar 🙌. fingers crossed the terms of reference get sorted out quickly and parliament can actually do some meaningful work on this before January 26th 🕰️. hope everyone in those bushfire zones gets safe to evacuate or shelter in place 🔥💨
 
man that's a big deal 🤯, i mean can't believe the aussie gov is finally taking action on this antisemitism thing... it's crazy how something that affects so many people can just get swept under the rug for so long 😔, but at least it's happening now.

i remember hearing about that bondi attack from my mate who's jewish and he was saying it was super scary and frustrating to see people being targeted like that 🤕, so it's cool to hear that something is being done about it.

but what's also got me thinking is how this is all connected to the whole protest thing... i mean laws restricting protests are just weird 🙄, and now they're trying to find a balance between free speech and safety? it's like, can't we just chill for once? 😂

anyway, fingers crossed that the royal commission does some real good work on this stuff.
 
🌡️ I think its a great idea for Australia to have a royal commission on antisemitism and social cohesion 🙏. It's about time we address these issues, especially with the recent string of terrorist incidents. The fact that Virginia Bell is heading it shows they're taking it seriously 🤝. As someone who's lived through their fair share of protests and demonstrations, I know how important it is to have a balanced approach to free speech and public safety. It's not just about laws restricting protest actions, its also about creating a safe and inclusive space for everyone to express themselves 🌈.
 
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