Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to call a royal commission into the Bondi Beach shootings is a belated recognition of the community’s desire for a wider inquiry that has caused much unnecessary pain.

The Herald has been at the forefront of calls for a federal commission as the prime minister ignored the pleas of victims’ families, the Jewish community and hundreds of public figures.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calls a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion after three weeks of calls for him to do so.Credit: AAPIMAGE

Albanese has finally done the right thing.

It is not weak to change your mind. That is what leaders do. But due to his obfuscation, complaints about backflips and weakness have continued. It is now time for the naysayers to get behind the process and let the commission do its work.

Ongoing and unseemly brawling over the establishment of the commission has also created a monstrous development in Australian politics: judicial appointment by public acclaim.

Word had hardly........

© The Sydney Morning Herald