Security PM orders review into intelligence agencies

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has announced a major review into intelligence and law enforcement processes in the lead-up to the Bondi beach attack, which will consider whether agencies have the right powers to keep the community safe.

- Tom Mcllroy

Amid growing pressure for a commonwealth royal commission into the killing of 15 people at a Hanukah event on 14 December, Albanese said the former Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) boss Dennis Richardson would lead a review of the agencies.

The four-month review would examine whether federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies had the right powers, structures, processes and sharing arrangements in place to keep Australians safe.

The attack “reinforces the rapidly changing security environment in our nation”, Albanese said yesterday. “Our security agencies must be in the best position to respond.”