Ex-ASIO Leader Steps Down from Antisemitism Inquiry Amid Report Finalization

Former ASIO head, Dennis Richardson, has stepped down from his role as special adviser to the royal commission on antisemitism.

Commissioner Virginia Bell made the announcement on Wednesday evening, as the commission gears up to deliver its preliminary findings by the end of April.

The royal commission was initiated by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the tragic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. On December 14, two gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration, resulting in the deaths of 15 individuals.

Bell emphasized, “During the commission’s initial hearing, I highlighted Mr. Richardson’s exceptional qualifications to advise on gathering material from our intelligence and security sectors to evaluate their readiness and responses to such an attack.”

“With the contributions of Mr. Richardson and his team, including Tony Sheehan, former Commonwealth counter-terrorism coordinator and ASIO deputy director-general, and Peter Baxter, ex-deputy secretary at the Department of Defence and former director-general of AusAID, progress on the interim report is significantly advanced,” Bell added.

Bell thanked Richardson “for the valuable contribution he has made to the commission”.

Her statement did not provide reasons for Richardson’s resignation.

Albanese’s government initially refused to call a royal commission into the Bondi massacre, instead tapping Richardson to head a review of the adequacy of intelligence and law enforcement agencies before the attack.

Following weeks of political pressure, Albanese relented and announced a broader inquiry to be headed by Bell, a former High Court judge, to investigate antisemitism and any failures in the nation’s intelligence services.

Mr Richardson’s review was folded into the new royal commission.

The inquiry is due to deliver its interim report to the government by 30 April.

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