7am How Bondi is testing Australia’s national security
Dec 17, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Professor Greg Barton, Chair in Global Islamic Politics at Deakin University and an expert on political Islam, provides critical insights into the alarming Bondi shooting. He explains the implications of the attackers being known to ASIO, examines the systemic gaps in Australia’s counter-terrorism measures, and discusses the challenges of detecting lone actors amidst encrypted communications. Barton also emphasizes the need for enhanced security measures in public spaces and explores the training roots of the gunmen in the Philippines.
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Terror Designation Activates Big Resources
- Designating the Bondi attack as terrorism unlocked joint counterterrorism resources and agencies to respond quickly.
- Greg Barton says that label must be justified but fit the clear politically motivated targeting at a Hanukkah event.
Initial Contact Isn’t A Lifetime Watch
- ASIO had previously engaged with Navid Akram in 2019 but assessed him as low priority after seeing no imminent criminality.
- Barton argues the system failed by not maintaining follow-up monitoring as his risk evolved.
How Navid Entered ASIO’s Radar
- Barton recounts the police operation around an Islamic State-linked network that led them to Navid.
- They questioned him and his father but judged him not likely to break laws and moved on.