ABC staff have been instructed not to delete emails, photographs, and documents related to antisemitism, social cohesion, and the Bondi terrorist attack, as a royal commission into the December massacre looms. This directive follows a “disposal freeze notice” issued by the National Archives of Australia to various institutions, including the ABC and SBS.
The notice, as communicated by ABC’s Director of News Justin Stevens, mandates the preservation of any document or record potentially relevant to the commission. This includes materials on social cohesion, antisemitism, religiously motivated extremism, radicalisation, law enforcement, border control, and the circumstances surrounding the Bondi attack.
Background of the Royal Commission
Last month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the royal commission into the tragic events of December 14, which resulted in 15 fatalities. Initially, Albanese resisted calls for a federal inquiry, suggesting a NSW-based inquiry would suffice. However, he reversed his stance following widespread political pressure. The commission, led by former High Court judge Virginia Bell, aims to conclude by December 14, 2026, and will scrutinize the “nature and prevalence of antisemitism in institutions and society in Australia.”
Implications for ABC Staff
Stevens emphasized that the message about record preservation was disseminated to all news staff to ensure compliance, although only some may possess relevant materials. He highlighted the necessity for staff to safeguard a variety of materials, including documents, emails, text messages, social media posts, audio records, and datasets. Additionally, Stevens cautioned against using disappearing messages on encrypted apps like Signal, often employed by journalists for confidential communications.
“Going forward, if you receive or send messages on Signal or any similar apps on these topics, continuing to use a disappearing messages setting would be a breach of the notice,” Stevens stated.
He further advised that regular email deletions for storage and security must exclude those related to the specified topics until further notice.
Historical Context and Previous Notices
This is not the first instance of such a directive. In 2020, the ABC and other government bodies received a similar notice concerning a federal inquiry into potential breaches of the law of war by Australian forces in Afghanistan. That directive remains active.
The current notice, issued by National Archives’ Director-General Simon Froude, applies to over 30 government agencies, including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the eSafety Commissioner, and the Attorney-General’s Department.
“A disposal freeze is necessary to ensure that these records are protected and available when required,” Froude stated on the archives’ website.
The notice technically suspends the National Archives’ permission to destroy government records related to antisemitism and social cohesion. Non-compliance could result in penalties up to $6,600.
Reactions and Future Steps
The ABC has declined to comment on the directive. Meanwhile, an SBS spokesperson noted that the organization had only recently received the notice and was still assessing its implementation and effects.
As the royal commission progresses, the preservation of records will be crucial in uncovering the underlying factors of the Bondi attack and addressing broader societal issues of antisemitism and social cohesion. The findings could potentially influence future policy and legislative measures aimed at preventing such tragedies.
This development underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in government and media institutions, as Australia grapples with the implications of the Bondi massacre and its impact on national security and social harmony.
