Less than a month on, Australia is still grappling with the consequences of the Bondi attack, in which 16 people were killed (including one of the shooters) and 40 more were injured. Most of the victims were Jewish and were attending an event to mark the start of Hanukkah.

Many have asked how this could happen in Australia. They also want to know how to stop something like this from happening again.

In the search for answers, the federal government, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, has been strongly criticised. Emotions are high, and political debate has made the situation more tense.

A lot of people want a royal commission into the attack and antisemitism more generally.

So if the government did decide to hold one, how might it work? What can royal commissions do that other investigations can’t, and what are the potential pitfalls?

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