Olympic swimming great Dawn Fraser has branded Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as “spineless” and has urged him to “get off your high horse”, as a group of prominent Australian athletes calls for a federal inquiry into anti-Semitism.
The eight-time Olympic medallist appeared at the Bondi Pavilion on Sunday with her daughter, stating the visit was “for the sole reason to stand in unity” with members of the sporting community who have written to Albanese requesting a royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.
Fraser said she was “very sorry” for her country “and its leaders not protecting each and every one of you”.
“In the 88 years of my life, living, loving, and representing this truly great country, I have never seen so much hate and division, and this breaks my heart,” she said.
She rejected suggestions the incident should be viewed solely as a “gun problem” and said she had been accused “many times” of being a racist.
“I stand with anyone that loves my country, that respects my country, that wants to see my country prosper,” she said.
“I will also call out people that have done the wrong thing and who have not stood up for this great country.
“And to you, Anthony Albanese, Tony Burke, Penny Wong, come down off your high horse and stop trying to run for cover.
“If the Jewish community is calling for a royal commission, then do the right thing by this community that has suffered enough.
“This is not about the spineless and the weak: It’s about doing the right thing.”
The letter to the Prime Minister was signed by a number of high-profile athletes, including former swimmers Grant Hackett, Dawn Fraser and Ian Thorpe, Olympic canoeist Jessica Fox, former tennis player Lleyton Hewitt, and speed skater Steven Bradbury.
The letter calls on Mr Albanese to establish a national inquiry into anti-Semitism, radicalisation, and the circumstances leading up to the December 14 terror attack.
“This attack did not occur in isolation. It followed more than two years of escalating extremism, intimidation and unchecked radicalisation within Australia,” the letter stated.
“What unfolded at Bondi was an act of terrorism driven by violent extremist ideology, and its consequences have shaken the foundations of our national safety and social cohesion.
“As sports leaders, past and present, we have witnessed first-hand the power of sport to unite Australians of every background, belief and community.
“Across generations, we have stood for fairness, respect, equality and the principle that every Australian – no matter who they are – deserves safety, dignity and the freedom to live without fear.
“Today, we cannot remain silent. This is not who we are. This is not the Australia we represented.”
The signatories urged the Prime Minister to demonstrate “decisive national leadership” and address what they described as “unprecedented harassment, intimidation and violence” directed at Australian Jews since October 7, 2023.
“With the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games approaching, the eyes of the world will soon be upon Australia. The safety of our citizens, the integrity of our public spaces, and the values we project as a nation have never mattered more,” the letter said.
It argued a Commonwealth royal commission would be the “most credible and unifying pathway” to determine accountability, understand systemic failures, and restore social cohesion.
The call follows similar appeals from leaders across business, politics, intelligence, national security and legal sectors, as well as from Jewish Australians, urging the Prime Minister to reconsider his position.
Albanese has repeatedly ruled out establishing a federal royal commission, stating that the most appropriate response – given the need for timely action – is a departmental review proposed by his government.
Instead, he has commissioned a review led by former ASIO director-general Dennis Richardson to examine the powers of intelligence and law enforcement agencies in the lead-up to the attack, which resulted in 15 deaths.
The Prime Minister has cited national security and social cohesion concerns as reasons for rejecting a Commonwealth inquiry, saying his government had been advised by “experts” against holding a royal commission.
Despite this, Albanese has acknowledged that calls for a federal inquiry – particularly from the Jewish community – are made in good faith.
“This atrocity is something which understandably people want answers on how it occurred,” he said last week.
He has reiterated the Commonwealth’s commitment to cooperating with the NSW royal commission and emphasised the importance of the Richardson review.
“We will have a NSW royal commission that will look at the actions clearly of NSW authorities, including the police response, gun licensing issues that are the prerogative of the NSW government,” he said.
“But also we’ve said very clearly that the Commonwealth government will co-operate with those processes and will provide whatever information is requested is necessary during those processes.”
Images: Sky News
