A federal royal commission on the Bondi terror attack is expected to be confirmed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as early as Thursday afternoon. Sources close to talks say the announcement could come around 4:30pm in Canberra. Albanese has reversed his earlier opposition to a wide inquiry following pressure from victims' families, Jewish groups, politicians, and his own Labor party. The Bondi shooting, allegedly by a father and son inspired by ISIS, killed 15 people during a Hanukah event. Former High Court justice Virginia Bell is expected to head the commission. Bell has a strong legal background, including work on NSW's Wood royal commission and a recent investigation into Scott Morrison's secret ministerial appointments. Albanese and his cabinet had resisted a federal royal commission for weeks, citing concerns it would take too long and give a platform to antisemitic hate. Instead, they appointed a narrow inquiry led by ex-Asio chief Dennis Richardson, which critics called inadequate. The alleged shooter Naveed Akram was previously investigated by Asio in 2019 and his father had a gun license. The federal Coalition and others have supported calls for a royal commission to investigate antisemitism, intelligence failures, law enforcement, and gun laws. Albanese had said earlier that a federal inquiry would delay important reforms, but the rising public demand forced a change of stance. More details will follow.