Australia’s most populous state has passed wide-ranging gun control and anti-terror legislation in response to the mass shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, a move the government says is aimed at preventing future attacks but which has drawn sharp criticism from activist groups.
The New South Wales parliament approved the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill early on Wednesday following an emergency sitting, with the upper house backing the measures by 18 votes to eight. The reforms were fast-tracked in the wake of the December 14 shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration that left 15 people dead and dozens wounded.
Tougher Gun Limits and New Licensing Rules
Under what Premier Chris Minns described as the toughest gun laws in Australia, most firearms licenses will be capped at four guns, while farmers will be allowed to own up to 10. Membership of a gun club will become mandatory for all license holders.
The legislation passed the lower house on Tuesday with support from the governing center-left Labor Party and the opposition Liberal Party. The rural-based National Party opposed the gun reforms, arguing the new ownership caps would unfairly disadvantage farmers.
Expanded Police Powers After Terror Attacks
The new laws significantly expand police authority following a declared terror attack, allowing officers to impose restrictions on protests for up to three months. Public displays of flags or symbols linked to banned militant groups such as Islamic State, Hamas or Hezbollah are now outlawed, with penalties of up to two years in prison or fines of A$22,000.
Minns said the changes were necessary to address intimidation and hate, pointing to chants such as “globalize the intifada,” often heard at pro-Palestine demonstrations. “Sydney and New South Wales has changed forever as a result of that terrorist activity,” he told reporters.
Legal Challenge Planned by Activist Groups
Several activist organizations have condemned the legislation and announced plans to challenge it in court. As reported in Reuters, the Palestine Action Group, Jews Against the Occupation and the First Nations-led Blak Caucus said they would pursue a constitutional challenge, calling the reforms “draconian anti-protest laws” rushed through parliament.
The groups accused the state government of exploiting the Bondi Beach attack to suppress political dissent and criticism of Israel, and to curtail democratic freedoms.
At the federal level, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has pledged a broader crackdown on hate speech, including legislation to make prosecutions easier and to deny or cancel visas for those promoting hatred or violence. He has also proposed a national gun buyback plan.
