ss A former Australian military commander and current terrorism lecturer at the University of Canberra has flatly rejected the Albanese government’s claim that a public inquiry is not appropriate for national security matters, calling it nothing less than a “cover-up for corruption.”In the wake of the Bondi terrorist attack—the deadliest in Australia’s history, he insists Australians don’t just deserve a review, they need a Royal Commission to demand justice and real protection. He pointedly added that if this tragedy had occurred before Albanese became Prime Minister, Albo himself would have demanded an inquiry

The Bondi Terrorist Attack Is the Bloodiest Attack in Australia’s History. Australians Not Only Deserve a Review But Need a Royal Commission to Demand Justice and Protection. If This Had Happened Before Albo Became Prime Minister, He Would Have Called for It.

But He Is in Power and Fears His Failures Being Exposed. And Peter Leahy Himself Also Issued a Statement That Shocked the Entire Nation of Australia and Gained Complete Support from Everyone!!

In a powerful and unflinching intervention that has galvanised public opinion across Australia on January 2, 2026, retired Major General Peter Leahy AC, former Chief of the Australian Army and respected lecturer on terrorism at the University of Canberra, has delivered a devastating critique of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s refusal to establish a Royal Commission into the Bondi terrorist attack – the deadliest act of terrorism in the nation’s history.

Leahy, a decorated military leader with decades of experience in national security and counter-terrorism, dismissed the government’s claim that a public inquiry is “not the appropriate forum” for sensitive security matters.

In a scathing opinion piece and subsequent media appearances, he labelled the excuse a “cover-up for corruption” designed to shield systemic failures from scrutiny. “This is not about protecting classified information,” Leahy declared. “This is about protecting political careers and bureaucratic incompetence at the expense of Australian lives.”

The Bondi attack, which claimed multiple innocent lives in a crowded shopping centre and left the nation traumatised, exposed glaring vulnerabilities in intelligence coordination, community threat monitoring, and rapid response protocols.

Victims’ families, first responders, and security experts have repeatedly called for a full Royal Commission – the most rigorous and independent investigative tool available – to uncover how warning signs were missed, why resources were inadequate, and what must change to prevent future tragedies.

Leahy passionately argued that Australians “not only deserve a review but need a Royal Commission to demand justice and protection.” He emphasised that only a Commission with coercive powers to compel testimony, access classified documents, and examine decision-making at the highest levels can deliver the transparency and accountability the public demands.

“Anything less is an insult to the victims and a betrayal of our national security,” he said.

The retired general highlighted the hypocrisy at the heart of Albanese’s refusal.

“If this had happened before Albo became Prime Minister, he would have called for it – loudly and repeatedly,” Leahy noted, recalling Labor’s aggressive demands for Royal Commissions into banking misconduct, aged care failures, and other issues during opposition years.

“But now he is in power and fears his failures being exposed. The same man who once championed transparency now hides behind ‘national security’ to avoid scrutiny.”

Leahy’s intervention culminated in a statement that has shocked and united the nation, earning overwhelming public support: “Denying Australians the truth about Bondi is not leadership – it is cowardice that endangers every citizen.”

Delivered during a packed press conference at the Australian War Memorial, the words reverberated across the country. Social media erupted with #LeahySpeaksForUs and #RoyalCommissionNow trending nationwide.

Veterans’ groups, victims’ families, police associations, and ordinary citizens flooded talkback radio and online forums with messages of gratitude, praising Leahy for his courage in defending Australia’s right to safety and truth.

His statement struck at the core of growing public disillusionment with the Albanese government. Approval ratings, already battered by economic challenges, have plummeted further as Australians question why the worst terrorist attack in history warrants less investigation than lesser scandals.

Leahy’s military credentials lend unmatched authority to his critique – as former Army Chief, he oversaw operations in Afghanistan and East Timor and helped shape Australia’s counter-terrorism strategy post-9/11.

Security experts have rallied behind Leahy. Former ASIO directors and counter-terrorism coordinators have echoed his call, warning that without a Royal Commission, critical lessons will remain unlearned, leaving Australia vulnerable to future attacks. “Peter Leahy is absolutely right,” one retired intelligence chief said.

“National security is strengthened by transparency, not weakened by it. Hiding failures protects no one except those responsible for them.”

The political fallout has been immediate. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton seized on Leahy’s statement, declaring: “A decorated general who led our troops is telling the truth the Prime Minister won’t face.

Australians deserve answers, not excuses.” Crossbench senators have signalled readiness to force a vote, while state premiers from both parties have expressed support for an independent inquiry.

For victims’ families still grieving, Leahy’s words offer validation and hope. “Finally, someone with authority is speaking for us,” one relative told reporters. “We don’t want politics – we want to know why our loved ones died and how to stop it happening again.”

Peter Leahy’s stand is not partisan – it is patriotic. His statement defends Australia’s most fundamental values: accountability, transparency, and the right of citizens to feel safe in their own country.

By calling out the government’s refusal as “cowardice that endangers every citizen,” he has reminded the nation that true leadership means confronting hard truths, not concealing them.

As public pressure mounts, the Albanese government faces a defining moment. Will it heed the call of a respected military leader and the Australian people, or continue to resist the scrutiny it once demanded of others?

One thing is clear: Peter Leahy has given voice to a nation’s demand for justice. His courage in defending Australia’s security and honour has earned universal respect. The people stand with him – and they will not be silenced.