Families of victims of the deadly Sydney attack on a Jewish festival issued an open letter Monday urging stronger federal action to address rising antisemitism and alleged security failures behind Australia’s worst mass shooting in three decades.

Two gunmen are accused of killing 15 people and wounding at least 40 others during an attack on a Hanukkah festival at Bondi Beach on Dec. 14.

In the letter addressed to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, 17 families of those killed or injured called for the establishment of a federal royal commission to investigate the surge in antisemitism in Australia since the outbreak of the Israel–Hamas war in 2023, as well as potential failures by security agencies to prevent the attack.

Royal commissions represent the highest level of public inquiry in Australia and have broad investigative powers, including the authority to compel testimony and penalize witnesses who deliberately withhold evidence.

“We need to know why clear warning signs were ignored, how antisemitic hatred and Islamic extremism were allowed to dangerously grow unchecked, and what changes must be made to protect all Australians going forward,” the families wrote.

Albanese, however, again rejected calls for a federal royal commission, citing concerns that such an inquiry would take years to produce findings. Instead, he announced a separate review to be led by retired senior public servant Dennis Richardson, which will examine possible shortcomings in laws, policies, and procedures related to national security. The review is expected to report its findings in April.

“My heart breaks for the families of the victims of the Bondi terrorist atrocity,” Albanese told reporters. “My job, as prime minister, is to act in the national interest, and it is in the national interest for us to proceed with the Richardson review on national security.”

Authorities have said the attack was allegedly inspired by the Islamic State group.

Albanese added that the federal government would support a royal commission announced by the New South Wales Government, which is based in Sydney, while maintaining that a separate federal inquiry was not warranted at this stage.

The debate underscores growing concern in Australia over extremist violence and the adequacy of existing measures to prevent attacks targeting religious communities.