May 31, 2026 – 5.19pmThe Albanese government’s bid to block the antisemitism royal commission from using documents showing a proportional decline in counter-terrorism funding has been overruled, in a decision that reveals cabinet was informed about and considered the decreased focus on terror.In two rulings quietly published on Friday, antisemitism royal commissioner Virginia Bell ruled that she needed access to cabinet documents to judge whether intelligence and law enforcement agencies performed to maximum effectiveness in their handling of the December 14, 2025 Bondi terror attack.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles
Commissioner rejects bid to keep counter-terrorism funding info secret
Labor tried to block documents that the royal commissioner says reveal cabinet was ‘informed about and considered’ declining priority given to counter-terror.
TL;DRAI
Royal commissioner Virginia Bell rejected the Australian government's attempt to keep cabinet documents revealing a counter-terrorism funding decline secret from the Bondi attack inquiry. The ruling limits executive privilege over security budgets, making cabinet deliberations accessible to independent commissions.
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