In a significant move to bolster national security, former intelligence chief Dennis Richardson has been appointed to lead an inquiry into Australia’s preparedness for countering terrorism. This comprehensive review will focus on assessing the capabilities of the nation’s security agencies in the face of evolving threats.

The urgency of this initiative was underscored by a recent tragic event, as the prime minister highlighted in a statement. “The ISIS-inspired atrocity last Sunday underscores the rapidly changing security landscape in our nation. Our security agencies must be optimally equipped to respond,” he asserted.

This examination will be undertaken by the prime minister’s department and the cabinet, casting a critical eye on the operations of key agencies such as the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

An essential aspect of the report, as noted by Prime Minister Albanese, will be to determine whether federal law enforcement and intelligence bodies possess the necessary powers, organizational structures, and processes, as well as effective information-sharing mechanisms, to ensure the safety of Australians. This initiative comes in the wake of the devastating antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.

The report will be provided to the government in April next year, and will also be made available to the public.

Albanese has stopped short of ordering a Royal Commission into how intelligence services and federal agencies acted before the shooting, which left 15 people dead.

“There’s no reason why we shouldn’t have a federal Royal Commission,” he said on Today.

“There has been a litany of failures here for two and a half years. The warning signs were there from the 8th of October, 2023.

“We should look ourselves in the eye. We should look at the failings of decisions made at a political level, at intelligence levels.”

Australians are also being encouraged to light a candle in solidarity with the victims and the Jewish community.