Retired swimmer Ian Thorpe is one of more than 60 sports stars calling for a Commonwealth Royal Commission.
Over 60 Australian sports stars have penned an open letter calling for a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack.
This letter indicates that the safety of Australians, besides the future cohesion of the country, depends on it.
It manifests as pressure mounts on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to support a national approach in preference to the state-based royal commission.
Other signatories include former Hockeyroo player Nova Peris, canoeist Jess Fox, former swimmer Ian Thorpe, and former Grand Slam tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt, besides former AFL player Sam Newman.
There were more signatories to this open letter, including other athletes. The supplementary signatories included Sydney Swans AFL player Isaac Heeney, Olympic swimmer Dawn Fraser & former athlete Sally Pearson.
So far, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has rejected widespread calls for a federal royal commission, despite tending to show support for a state-based approach.
In this open letter, the signatories extended their condolences to the families of the 15 people killed by the 2 Bondi assassins, which included 10-year-old Matilda, whose charismatic smile was entrenched in many.
The open letter went on to state that the targeted attack on a Jewish celebration on December 14 followed more than two years of escalating extremism and intimidation, besides unchecked radicalisation within Australia.
The open letter further read that the signatories called on the Prime Minister & the Australian Government to display decisive national leadership by confronting extremism, besides terrorism, in all its forms, without fear or hesitation.
The open letter further cited that Australians must put an end to the unprecedented harassment. The letter also stated that the Australian Jewish community has been the target of intimidation and violence. This was particularly true during the 15 months following 7 October 2023.
The letter also stated that a royal commission was the most credible and unifying pathway to ensuring accountability, besides understanding, while restoring social harmony.
Australians have long championed unity & national pride, the open letter had further read. On the field & beyond it, so we implore our leaders to act with urgency besides moral clarity.
Addressing a media conference on Sunday, 4 January, outside the Bondi Pavilion, Ms Peris said that a royal commission was about ensuring that such a tragedy would never happen again.
Ms Peris believed that if we fail to investigate with a royal commission now, honestly, rigorously & without fear, we risk investigating funerals once again.
This is not alarmism, the open letter further stated. It is our responsibility, and this is what we, as proud Australians, do collectively. As such, proud athletes representing a proud Australian community have rallied together in this instance. It is to give voice to those who are no longer with us while restoring the truth & dignity of this country.
Ms Dawn Fraser, present at this referred media briefing, told the Jewish community that we have failed you, adding that in her 88 years, she had never seen so much hate & division. She expressed that the division and hate she was witnessing were deeply distressing her.
Fraser also voiced her opinions to the Labour government, urging Anthony Albanese, Tony Burke, and Penny Wong to humble themselves. Furthermore, stop trying to run for cover.
Fraser was cited as saying that if the Jewish community is calling for a royal commission, then do the right thing by this community that has suffered enough. Not turning a blind eye.
Former AFL player & signatory Gerard Healy said that he was added by an Olympian to a hook-up that included a number of other sports leaders to discuss the open letter.
Healy added that he was 1 of 4 on a steering committee who put my name to it as I couldn’t disagree with anything.
