Australian lawmakers have swiftly approved stringent firearms restrictions and hate crime measures following the Bondi Beach shooting that killed 15 people one month ago. The House of Representatives passed both bills during an emergency session recalled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, with Senate approval expected later today.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated the gunmen would not have accessed weapons legally under the new laws. The attackers had “hate in their hearts and guns in their hands,” Burke told parliament. The suspects included a father owning six registered firearms and a son flagged by intelligence agencies.
The gun package passed 96-45, imposing tighter import controls, better intelligence sharing for licences, and a buyback of “surplus and newly restricted firearms” to cut Australia’s 4.1 million registered guns—more than before the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that killed 35 and spurred global-leading controls.
Revised hate speech laws targeting antisemitism also advanced after last week’s split from the gun bill due to coalition and Greens concerns over free speech and minority protections. Liberal leader Sussan Ley said her party had “stepped up to fix legislation” the government had “mishandled,” now “narrowed, strengthened and properly focused on keeping Australians safe.”
The measures ban hate groups with biennial reviews and opposition input on listings, backed by crossbench support for rapid enactment.