Australia’s New South Wales set to pass tougher gun laws after Bondi attack
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Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach on Dec 14.
PHOTO: AFP
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SYDNEY – Australia’s most populous state is set to pass tougher gun laws, ban the display of terrorist symbols and curb protests after the state Parliament’s Lower House cleared a Bill late on Dec 22 in an emergency sitting following the Bondi mass shooting.
The terrorism and other legislation amendment Bill won support from the opposition Liberal Party in New South Wales state, and is expected to clear the Upper House by early Dec 24.
The ruling centre-left Labor government has proposed capping most individual gun licences at four firearms and allowing up to 10 for farmers.
Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration
A Muslim prayer hall previously linked by a court to a cleric who made statements intimidating Jewish Australians was shut on Dec 22 by the local authorities, a move described by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns as an “important step” for the community.
Mr Minns said the authorities “need to make decisive steps, whether it’s through planning law or hate speech (law), to send the message to those who are intent on putting hate in people’s heart or spreading racism in our community that they will be met with the full force of the law”.
The Canterbury Bankstown Council on Dec 23 said it had issued a “cease use” directive to shut down an “illegal prayer hall” run by cleric Wissam Haddad after surveillance of the Al Madina Dawah Centre showed the premises were being used in violation of planning laws.
An official at the centre told Reuters by telephone that Mr Haddad was no longer involved in managing the centre.
The Al Madina Dawah Centre said in a statement on social media on Dec 15 that Mr Haddad’s involvement was “limited to occasional invitations as a guest speaker, including delivering lectures, and at times Friday sermons”.
A source close to Mr Haddad who declined to be named also told Reuters the preacher was no longer involved in the management of the centre.
Mr Haddad denies any involvement or knowledge of what happened in Bondi, the source added.
Albanese calls Israel’s Herzog
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Dec 23 to express shock and dismay at the attack on the Australian Jewish community, adding that Australia would invite Mr Herzog to make an official visit as soon as possible.
Mr Herzog conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims and said he would accept the invitation, the President’s office said in a statement. “President Herzog underscored the importance of taking all legal measures to combat the unprecedented rise in anti-Semitism, extremism and jihadist terror,” the statement added.
Although Australia tightened gun laws after a 1996 shooting that killed 35 people, a police firearms registry showed more than 70 people in New South Wales, which includes Sydney, owning more than 100 guns each. One licence holder has 298 guns.
A Sydney Morning Herald poll on Dec 23 found three-quarters of Australians want tougher gun laws.
The rural-focused Nationals Party opposed the gun reforms in New South Wales, saying the amendments would disadvantage farmers, who need the firearms to rein in pests that threaten livestock and crops. REUTERS
