Australia’s New South Wales passes tougher gun, anti-terror laws after Bondi Beach shooting
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People mourning near floral tributes placed for victims and survivors of the Dec 14 mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Dec 21.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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SYDNEY – Australia’s most populous state on Dec 24 passed sweeping new gun and anti-terror laws following the recent mass shooting on Bondi Beach
The New South Wales state Parliament passed the Bill on terrorism and other legislation amendment in the early morning, after the Upper House approved the Bill by 18 votes to eight.
State Premier Chris Minns said not all residents of New South Wales would support the tough reforms, but his government was doing everything possible to keep people safe in the wake of the Dec 14 shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration. Fifteen people were killed and dozens wounded
“Sydney – and New South Wales – has changed forever as a result of that terrorist activity,” Mr Minns told reporters.
The Bill passed the Lower House on Dec 23 with support from the governing centre-left Labor and the opposition Liberal Party. The rural-focused National Party, the Liberals’ junior coalition partner, opposed the gun reforms, arguing that ownership caps would unfairly disadvantage farmers.
The Bondi Beach gun attack, Australia’s deadliest in almost three decades, prompted calls for stricter gun laws and tougher action against anti-Semitism.
Under the new laws, which Mr Minns described as the toughest in Australia, most individual gun licences will be capped at four firearms, while farmers will be permitted to own up to 10 guns.
Gun club membership will be mandatory for all firearms licence holders.
Police will be granted more powers to impose restrictions on protests for up to three months after a declared terror attack.
Public display of flags and symbols of prohibited militant organisations such as Islamic State, Hamas or Hezbollah has been outlawed, and offenders will be jailed for up to two years or fined A$22,000 (S$19,000).
Mr Minns said concerns had been raised over chants like “globalise the intifada”, usually heard during pro-Palestine protests, adding that hateful statements used to vilify and intimidate people must be banned.
Police believe the two alleged gunmen were inspired by the militant Sunni Muslim group Islamic State
Legal challenge
Activist groups have condemned the law and signalled plans for a constitutional challenge.
In a statement, the Palestine Action Group, Jews Against the Occupation and the First Nations-led Blak Caucus said they would file a legal challenge against what they described as “draconian anti-protest laws” rushed through the state Parliament.
“It is clear that the (state) government is exploiting the horrific Bondi attack to advance a political agenda that suppresses political dissent and criticism of Israel, and curtails democratic freedoms,” the groups said.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also vowed a crackdown on hate speech, with his centre-left federal government planning to introduce legislation to make it easier to prosecute those promoting hatred and violence, and to cancel visas or deny them to people involved in hate speech.
Facing criticism that his government has not done enough to curb anti-Semitism, Mr Albanese said he spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Dec 23 and invited him to make an official visit to Australia as soon as possible. REUTERS
