Fire and Emergency says people cause 97% of wildfires in Aotearoa.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has buckled after weeks of intense pressure and called a Commonwealth royal commission after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

After reports began to emerge this afternoon he was considering the move, Albanese confirmed he will recommend the governor-general establish a national probe in a snap press conference this afternoon.

He said the inquiry would be led by former High Court justice Virginia Bell and would examine antisemitism and social cohesion in Australia.

READ MORE: 'Ripped of my identity': Bondi terror victim says name was changed in hospital

"One of the reasons our nation is one of the oldest and strongest modern democracies in the world is because every Australian has the right to express their view, and as prime minister, I respect people's views, and I listen to them, I take the time to choose the right path, the course of action that will make a positive difference to our country," he said.

"I've repeatedly said that our government's priority is to promote unity and social cohesion, and this is what Australia needs to heal, to learn, to come together in a spirit of national unity and to go forward.

"It's clear to me that a royal commission is essential to achieving this."

The review into the effectiveness of federal agencies that is currently under way will be folded into the royal commission, but will still deliver an interim report as expected in April.

The planned NSW royal commission into the incident has been scrapped, following the announcement today.

The Commonwealth royal commission will cover four areas as set out in the terms of reference:

1. Tackling antisemitism by investigating the nature and prevalence of antisemitism
2. Making any recommendations to enforcement, border immigration and security agencies to tackle antisemitism, including through improvements to guidance and training within law enforcement, border control, immigration and security agencies to respond to antisemitic conduct
3. Examine the circumstances around the Bondi Beach terrorist attack aided by the Richardson review
4. Make any other recommendations arising out of the inquiry for strengthening social cohesion in Australia and countering the spread of ideological and religiously motivated extremism in Australia

Bell will be required to hand down her report before the first anniversary of the Bondi attack on December 14 this year. 

"This won't be a drawn-out process," Albanese said, after previously saying that royal commissions take years to hand down a report and only delay changes.

READ MORE: Bondi terror attack hero recounts his story in front of millions

Albanese had repeatedly knocked back calls from some of the families of the victims of the Bondi attack, members of his own party, the opposition and the Jewish community to open a federal royal commission, instead opting for more immediate action.

He is expected to recall parliament early sometime this month to introduce a range of reforms announced by the federal government, including a landmark gun buyback scheme, hate speech laws, a new offence targeting the radicalisation of children, and more powers for the home affairs minister to cancel or refuse visas if a person is suspected of promoting violence or hate or is associated with a terrorist organisation.

The prime minister fended off questions from reporters about his backflip today, reiterating that he has been working on a royal commission for weeks after listening to the calls and meeting with members of the Jewish community.

"I've engaged constructively regardless of some of the things that have been said. I haven't engaged in politics. I have been focused on outcomes. That's the first point," he said.

"The second is I've listened and, in a democracy, that's a good thing to listen to what people are saying."

Opposition Leader Sussan Ley said she would review the terms of reference, while criticising the appointment of only one royal commissioner and the delay in opening the national probe.

"Caving under pressure does not absolve this prime minister or his government of their failures," she said.

Albanese has assured that the royal commission would not prejudice the court process for the alleged lone surviving gunman, Naveed Akram, due to Bell's experience.

"I have confidence in the royal commission. It's one of the reasons why we chose someone who has a criminal law background, has been in senior positions in the Supreme Court and the High Court of Australia," he said.

"She's the most qualified person we could possibly consider."

Albanese will formally recommend Governor-General Sam Mostyn to establish the Commonwealth royal commission at an executive council meeting tomorrow. 

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Bondi terror attack hero Ahmed al Ahmed has made another appearance in front of millions of American TV viewers, explaining what was running through his head as he tackled one of the alleged gunmen.

In a new interview on CNN, the 43-year-old said he wanted to protect people in danger and save as many lives as he could.

"I did it as I'm a human being," he said.

READ MORE: Bondi hero touches down in US for medical treatment

"I get five shots, it's fine to save life. My blood for my country, Australia and for human beings around the whole world."

He appeared on US television with Rabbi Yehoram Ulman, the father-in-law of the late Rabbi Eli Schlanger, who was killed in the attack.

The Syrian-born father was hailed a hero after vision of him wrestling and disarming the gunman went viral.

Ahmed, who was shot multiple times, is in the US receiving specialist treatment for his injuries.

The father-of-two was also the guest of honour at the annual Colel Chabad awards in New York.

READ MORE: Bondi terror attack victim Peter Meagher's brother sends out poignant message at funeral

Outside of the major Jewish gala, where he was honoured for his actions during the Bondi terror attack, Ahmed told 9News he would risk his life to save others again.

"I spilled my blood for Australia and humanity," he told 9News before the event.

"All human beings and I would do it anywhere in the world."

Earlier on the trip he joined leaders of New York's Jewish community, visiting the burial site of the late leader of the Chabad movement in New York.

Ahmed is now bound for Washington DC, where he hopes to meet the US President. 

Following the Bondi terror attack, Ahmed spent two weeks in St George Hospital in Sydney's south and underwent surgery for gunshot wounds.

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WARNING: The above video contains confronting footage.

Video has emerged of a confrontation in the US city of Minneapolis that ended with an immigration enforcement officer shooting a driver dead.

Renee Nicole Good, 37, was killed by the ICE agent as she drove on a residential street in the midwestern city.

Good's Honda appeared to be blocking the street to the officers' unmarked car – though it is not apparent if it was a deliberate effort or an attempt at a three-point turn.

READ MORE: 'Leave immediately': Fires threatening lives in Victoria

"Get out of the f—— car," one masked agent says as he walks to her vehicle, before grabbing the door handle.

She reverses less than a metre before moving forward.

As she does, another agent in front of the car pulls out a handgun and fires three shots in quick succession.

"What the f— did you do?" the bystander filming the confrontation shouts as Good's Honda smashes into a parked car.

Doctor stopped from helping

The ICE agents on the scene appeared to prevent a doctor from helping Good after she was shot.

"Can I go check a pulse? I'm a physician," the man was filmed saying as he stood on the side of the road with his hands up.

"I don't care," one agent replies.

Another told him there were paramedics on the way.

"We have our own medics," he said.

"Where are they?" the woman filming the video, Emily Heller, can be heard shouting.

An agent then tells her to relax.

"How can I relax? You just killed my f—ing neighbour," Heller replied.

Good was pronounced dead in hospital.

She lived a couple of blocks from the place where she was killed, neighbours said.

Trump claims self-defence

In a Truth Social post, President Donald Trump described the shooting as "self-defence".

"The woman screaming was, obviously, a professional agitator, and the woman driving was very disorderly, obstructing and resisting, who then violently, willfully (sic) and viciously ran over the ICE Officer, who seems to have shot her in self-defence," Trump said.

READ MORE: Two charged, two more wanted after 'bonnet up' scam targeting elderly women

"Based on the attached clip, it is hard to believe he is alive, but is now recovering in hospital.

"The situation is being studied, in its entirety, but the reason these incidents are happening is because the Radical Left is threatening, assaulting, and targeting our Law Enforcement Officers and ICE Agents on a daily basis."

Trump posted a video of the shooting from further down the road.

An ICE statement described Good's actions as "domestic terrorism".

READ MORE: Police slam 'reckless' thieves for cutting down fire danger warning sign

"One of these violent rioters weaponised her vehicle, attempting to run over our law enforcement officers in an attempt to kill them – an act of domestic terrorism," the statement read.

"An ICE officer, fearing for his life, the lives of his fellow law enforcement and the safety of the public, fired defensive shots.

"He used his training and saved his own life and that of his fellow officers."

Local politicians fume at ICE

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey described the Trump administration's characterisation of the shooting as "bullshit".

"This was an agent recklessly using power that resulted in somebody getting killed," Frey said.

"We've dreaded this moment since the early stages of this ICE presence in Minneapolis.

"They are not here to create safety in this city, what they are doing is causing chaos and distrust.

"ICE, get the f— out of Minneapolis."

Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez described the shooting as a "public murder".

"What we saw today was a criminal murder a woman and shoot her in the head was she was trying to escape and flee for her life," she said.

"What we saw today was a manifestation of every American's worst nightmare: their government turning into a tyranny."

She called for the officer to be arrested and prosecuted.

READ MORE: 'Doesn't feel fair': Australian-British citizens caught out by new passport rule

Child orphaned after shooting

Good's mother Donna Ganger said her daughter was "not part of anything like that".

"Renee was one of the kindest people I've ever known," Ganger told the Star Tribune.

"She was extremely compassionate. She's taken care of people all her life."

The 37-year-old leaves behind a six-year-old child. The child's father died two years ago.

The ICE agent has not been identified.

READ MORE: Kamala Harris' running mate Tim Walz considering return to teaching

Vigils, marches after Good's death

Governor Tim Walz has put the National Guard on standby in fear of riots breaking out.

"Donald Trump and his administration may not care much about Minnesota — that's been pretty evident — but we love this state," he said.

"To Minnesotans, on the National Guard, they're there to protect you and protect your constitutional rights.

"These are our neighbours. They don't wear masks. They don't bust in from somewhere else.

"They're not here to cause hassles to you or what we saw today, the tragedy."

Riots broke out in the city in 2020 after the death of George Floyd at the hands of a Minnesota police officer.

But it appears there has been no rioting in the wake of Good's death.

Instead, protesters have participated in peaceful marches or mourned at candlelight vigils.

Classes have been cancelled at Minneapolis public schools for tomorrow and the next day nevertheless.

READ MORE: Attorney for Rob Reiner's son drops out of his murder trial

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The Eden Park event is expected to draw about 20,000 attendees over three days.

OPINION: I don’t envy the company, but it should never have been in this position.

Police have described offenders who cut down a fire danger warning sign in northern Victoria amid the bushfire emergency as "reckless and dangerous".

Unknown thieves in the town of Koonoomoo cut down the automated sign on the corner of Goulburn Valley Highway and Greens Lane between 8am and 1pm yesterday.

They stole the solar battery from the installation before leaving the damage behind.

LIVE UPDATES: Extreme weather grips Australia

The sign has an estimated value of $60,000, but more importantly, alerts the community to the fire safety danger ratings in the area.

Yesterday's fire safety rating was set to high in Koonoomoo and surrounding areas, with total fire bans in other areas of the state.

Multiple bushfires are burning out of control in Victoria today.

READ MORE: Thousand-kilometre stretch of Queensland on alert as tropical low lingers at sea

Detective Acting Sergeant Leah Booth said the thieves' actions had placed the whole community in potential danger.

"To damage a sign that alerts the community to the fire danger rating is completely reckless and dangerous," she said.

"These signs are in place to make sure people who are in the area are aware of the fire danger safety rating to abide by the restrictions and act if needed.

"You are not only cutting down and damaging a sign, but you are also potentially putting the wider community at risk."

Any witnesses, anyone with vision or information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or make a confidential online report.

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The 78-year-old died this morning after a long illness.

NZDF has obtained a High Court injunction to block details of an armed hunt for a soldier.

A Bondi terror attack victim has revealed the hospital she was being treated at changed her name during her stay to protect her from media intrusion. 

Rosalia was struck in the head by shrapnel during the Bondi terror attack and was taken to Liverpool Hospital for surgery.

She later noticed she was admitted under the pseudonym Karen Jones.

READ MORE: Police slam 'reckless' thieves for cutting down fire danger warning sign

She said the hospital claimed it was for her own safety and to prevent media attention.

"The people (came) and they said that they have to change my name," Rosalia told Today.

"They cut my band, and they put me as just Karen Jones without any religion

"I (felt) terrible. It's like I've been ripped of my identity.

"We lived in Australia for 48 years. We came from (a) communist country to have a better life for ourselves and for our daughter.

"We fell in love with Australia."

READ MORE: 'Leave immediately': Fires threatening lives in Victoria

Rosalia said that she has not felt safe in the country for the past two years.

"Our government never, ever listened to us," she said. 

READ MORE: Two charged, two more wanted after 'bonnet up' scam targeting elderly women

She said she is on medication and is getting help from her community as she continues to grieve for the innocent lives lost in the terror attack.

South Western Sydney Local Health District said it sometimes used aliases to protect patient privacy.

"South Western Sydney Local Health District is committed to ensuring patient privacy is protected at all times and takes all necessary steps to ensure it is maintained," a spokesperson said.

"All staff in public hospitals are bound by privacy legislation to safeguard patient confidentiality.

"This may include the use of aliases or disguised identity."

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