2026-03-12
Today, the Albanese Labor Government, with the support of the Liberals, handed security agencies a veto over what information can be given to Royal Commissions into the Bondi attack and how that evidence can be used.
The Royal Commissions Legislation Amendment (Protections for Providing Information) Bill 2026, is meant to respond to a recommendation from the Interim report of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, but only partially implements this.
The Veterans Royal Commission found that members of the Defence Force and security agencies did not feel free to give evidence to the Royal Commission because of fear of prosecution for breaches of secrecy provisions. As the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion begins this protection is clearly essential, and it is not being given by Labor’s proposals.
This Bill does not give the protection recommended by the Royal Commission into Veteran Suicide. It only gives current and former members of security agencies protection from prosecution if they give evidence to the Royal Commission in accordance with arrangements negotiated between the security agency and the Royal Commission. The Bill also provides that the Royal Commission can only use such information in accordance with arrangements agreed to by the security agency.
Senator David Shoebridge, Greens spokesperson on Justice, said: “You cannot have the security agencies deciding what evidence is given to the Royal Commission about their own activities. This Bill lets the fox run the hen house.
“The horror we saw at Bondi was a national tragedy. This Royal Commission must be able to closely scrutinise the role of Commonwealth security agencies before and after this racist attack. This cannot happen when those same agencies are looking over the commission's shoulder.
“The Greens have long called for the protection of whistleblowers, including those inside security agencies who want to provide information to Royal Commissions or the Parliament.
“There must be proper protections for brave truth tellers, and agencies can’t hide from scrutiny behind secrecy clauses where this stands in the way of uncovering fundamental problems.
“This Bill goes nowhere near the protections needed for witnesses to the Royal Commission who look at David McBride in jail and are right to be worried what will happen to them if they tell the truth.”