Assessing Albanese's royal commission into Bondi Beach attack

Too easily, the government accepted that a NSW only royal commission was all that was needed, and even at his recent press conference announcement, the prime minister persevered with the myth that this was a "de facto Commonwealth royal commission" – surely not given limited state powers and jurisdiction.

Now with this late announcement NSW royal commission is defunct, but it is unclear whether there will be a joint NSW-federal inquiry or if other states are also to be invited.

Similarly, where does the much-vaunted Richardson review that now "will become part of the commission" fit into the new royal commission in terms of its powers, status and role?

What a mess.

Because royal commissions are bespoke instruments, the Albanese government's persistent rejection meant crucial steps in the proper formation of this commission were missed. What a contrast to the Gillard government, which had a public consultation process on the terms of reference and membership when it established the child sex commission. It got all those crucial issues right from the start, as the final report testifies.

Such consultation could have avoided flak over Virginia Bell's appointment both in terms of whether such single membership is adequate to review the four major areas under consideration, meet the government's December deadline, and to avoid any unfair criticism about the commission's impartiality.

Other royal commissions into disability, veterans' suicide, bushfires, and child abuse had multiple members, ensuring a range of expertise and the flexibility to proceed more quickly.

Whether this royal commission should take on a "truth-telling" role that occurred with the child abuse inquiry, which allowed victims to express their hurt in a non-threatening environment, is another missed issue. That process helped restore child sexual victims' faith and trust in existing institutions. This is not an irrelevant consideration concerning antisemitism and the anguish among the Jewish community.

At present, this royal commission has been welcomed even by former critics. As the government calculated, it has generated goodwill. It has given the Albanese government a reprieve, but this may be temporary.

It has a long way to go, and like all royal commissions, the Albanese government's fate will depend on how it is conducted, what it finds, its final report and what the government does with the recommendations.

Watch this space.