More than one hundred Aussie business leaders today called on Anthony Albanese to establish a Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attack. It’s the latest in several calls for a federal inquiry as the PM continues to defend his decision to keep the investigation behind closed doors. Joining us to discuss today’s headlines is Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr and Former Queensland Premier Anastasia Palaszczuk. Good morning to you both. Thanks for joining us at the start of 2026. Paul to you first – we’ve had victims’ families, the Jewish community, top barristers, politicians, including some of Labor’s own back benches. Now it’s the business community. It seems like everyone in this country, except for the Prime Minister, wants this royal commission.
Senator Scarr
Absolutely Nick and they want a Royal Commission for particularly good reasons. This is a national crisis. This is Australia’s worst terrorist attack on Australian soil. It deserves a Royal Commission and needs a Royal Commission, and only a Royal Commission will have the powers that need to be exercised to get to the answers Australians want.
Host
Anastasia. The other big Royal Commission, of course, that people were calling for was Covid. You would have needed to give evidence of that, so would I. But this almost seems bigger than the calls for a Covid Royal Commission, doesn’t it? Do you think the PM can ignore these calls?
Annastacia Palaszczuk
Nick, the issue here is that the New South Wales Government stepped in first and ordered a Royal Commission. I’ve said this publicly and previously, I don’t think we need two royal commissions. I understand the concern of the victims and the Jewish community. I’ve been to the memorial services, but Australians want action. They want to see the gun buybacks happen. They want to see legislation fast tracked through the federal parliament. We’ve seen the state Parliament’s recall. I don’t think they want four years bogged down in lawyers. But that’s not to say that Dennis Richardson, who’s doing that federal review, may make recommendations about further things that need to be done, but the time is for action. So, I want to see the federal government move quickly, and from what I’m seeing, they’re going to recall Parliament, and there’s going to be fast action, and that’s what Australians need.
Host
I get that, and of course, a state Royal Commission does have compulsive powers. But don’t you think that what Aussies are looking for is the leadership from the federal government here? If you were in Albo’s position, you could have a chat with Chris Minns, couldn’t you and just say, Listen, mate, we’ll take over.
Annastacia Palaszczuk
Well, my understanding is that the federal government has said that they’re going to cooperate with the state government. If it had happened in Queensland and I was Premier, I would have said, let’s have a Royal Commission in Queensland. I know I’m a bit on the outer here, but Australians want action. You know, there’s a lot of talk happening now, but in the light of the tragedy that’s happened, we really need to see reforms happening quickly on the ground, and we don’t want to see anything like this happen again. It’s been heartbreaking.
Host
Well, I think we can all agree on that. Paul. Back to you now. New data has revealed that regional universities are rated higher by students in terms of salaries, full time, employment, and overall satisfaction than some of their bigger metropolitan counterparts. In fact, only two metropolitan universities have cracked the top eight for the best median graduate salary, six months after finishing a degree. This is a huge win for regional universities, isn’t it?
Senator Scarr
Oh, it is Nick, and we have some fabulous regional universities in Queensland – The University of Southern Queensland and the Central Queensland University, and a lot of students find that they have smaller classes. The courses are useful, practical courses. Certainly, at the University of Southern Queensland, some of the engineering courses and nursing courses are just first class, and students get good university experience, and they get employment.
Host
Anastasia, you attended G8 University, I think the University of Queensland in Brisbane. Did you ever consider a regional university back when you were making those decisions?
Annastacia Palaszczuk
Well, I lived in Brisbane, so it was logical for me to go to the University of Queensland. But let me say, you know, there’s good universities right across Australia, and what we find is, if people go to a regional university, especially if they’re going to study nursing or to become a doctor, for example, they tend to stay in the regions, and let’s face it, it’s more affordable now for young people to start their families, to buy their first home living in regional Australia. So, you know, good luck to all our universities.
Host
I mean, the other thing Anastasia is, of course, the experience at university is quite different from when the three of us all went. What do you think the impact of moving to online education is going to be, just for the university life of kids growing up these days?
Annastacia Palaszczuk
Oh, look, I just don’t know about this online. It is practical for people who are working, people who are raising their families. Bu, Nick, I’m old school. I like to be there. I like to understand, you know, talk to other people, get their views and now that I’m teaching at the University of Queensland as well, I love that student interaction, and I think people miss a bit of that if they’re at home and they’re not on university campus, and thank goodness we didn’t have mobile phones back when we were at university.
Host
Yes, indeed. Weight loss drugs are changing the way Aussie hospitality venues shape their menus. Small portions are being offered for those people who are on drugs like Ozempic. This is a huge cultural shift. We’ve been partial to a big brekkie in the past. What’s going on here?
Senator Scarr
Nick coming out of the Christmas Season, I’m looking to get rid of my request for seconds and thirds. It’s not a question about small portions now for me, but there certainly has been a shift, and we’ve all got to look after ourselves. New Year’s Eve is a time for resolution, so I think we all must be careful how much we eat, and we all got to exercise and look after ourselves.
Host
Great advice there from Shadow Immigration Minister Paul Scarr and Former Premier of Queensland, Annastacia Palaszczuk. Thank you both.
