Photo: BBC
Following a devastating shooting incident at Bondi Beach, which marked Australia’s most lethal act of gun violence in nearly thirty years, there has been a surge in demands for more stringent firearm regulations and a more robust response to anti-Jewish sentiment.
In the aftermath of the mass shooting at Bondi Beach, Australia’s most populous state enacted comprehensive new legislation concerning firearms and counter-terrorism measures on Wednesday. These new rules impose tighter controls on gun ownership, prohibit the public display of symbols associated with terrorism, and enhance the authority of law enforcement to manage public gatherings. A police helicopter is seen surveying Bondi Beach as life slowly returns to normal, a week after the attack and following seven days of official mourning in Sydney.
The New South Wales state parliament approved the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill in the early hours of Wednesday, after the upper house gave its assent by a vote of 18 to eight during an extraordinary session.
Premier Chris Minns acknowledged that not all residents of New South Wales would endorse these stringent reforms, but emphasized that his administration was taking every possible step to ensure public safety in the wake of the December 14th incident at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, where 15 individuals lost their lives and many others sustained injuries.
Minns informed journalists that “Sydney and New South Wales have been irrevocably altered by this act of terrorism.”
The bill had previously cleared the lower house on Tuesday with backing from both the ruling center-left Labor party and the opposition Liberal party. The National Party, which primarily represents rural interests and is the Liberal party’s junior coalition partner, opposed the gun control aspects of the reforms, contending that the limits on ownership would unfairly disadvantage farmers.
The Bondi Beach shooting, Australia’s deadliest in almost three decades, triggered calls for stricter gun laws and a more forceful stance against antisemitism.
Under the new firearm regulations, which Minns characterized as the most stringent in Australia, individuals will be limited to owning a maximum of four firearms, while farmers will be permitted to possess up to ten.
Possession of a gun club membership will become a prerequisite for all firearm license holders.
Law enforcement will be granted expanded powers to implement restrictions on protests for a period of up to three months following a declared terrorist incident.
The public display of flags and emblems belonging to proscribed militant groups such as the Islamic State, Hamas, or Hezbollah is now forbidden, with offenders facing potential imprisonment for up to two years or a fine of A22,000(approximately14,742).
Minns indicated that concerns had been raised regarding slogans like “globalise the intifada,” which are frequently heard during pro-Palestine demonstrations, and stated that expressions of hate used to denigrate and intimidate individuals must be prohibited.
Authorities believe the two individuals suspected of carrying out the attack were influenced by the militant Sunni Muslim group Islamic State. Sajid Akram, aged 50, was fatally shot by police, while his 24-year-old son, Naveed, has been indicted on 59 charges, including murder and terrorism.
LEGAL CHALLENGE
Original: Activist groups have condemned the law and signalled plans for a constitutional challenge.
Rewritten: Organizations advocating for change have voiced strong disapproval of the legislation and indicated their intention to contest its legality in court.
Original: In a statement, the Palestine Action Group, Jews Against the Occupation and the First Nations-led Blak Caucus said it would file a legal challenge against what they described as “draconian anti-protest laws” rushed through the state parliament.
Rewritten: The Palestine Action Group, Jews Against the Occupation, and the Blak Caucus, a collective led by Indigenous peoples, declared in a joint announcement that they would initiate legal proceedings against what they characterized as “harsh laws restricting protest” that were swiftly passed by the state legislature.
Original: “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.
Rewritten: The organizations stated, “It is evident that the government is leveraging the terrible Bondi incident to further a political objective aimed at stifling opposition, discouraging criticism of Israel, and diminishing civil liberties.”
Original: 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 or deny visas to people involved in hate speech. Albanese has proposed a gun buyback plan as well.
Rewritten: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also pledged to take a firm stance against hateful rhetoric. His center-left federal administration intends to propose new laws that will simplify the prosecution of individuals who incite hatred and violence, and will also facilitate the revocation or refusal of visas for those engaged in such speech. Furthermore, Albanese has put forward a proposal for a firearms buyback program.
Original: Facing criticism that his government has not done enough to curb antisemitism, Albanese said he spoke with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday and invited him to make an official visit to Australia as soon as possible.
Rewritten: In response to accusations that his administration has not adequately addressed antisemitism, Albanese mentioned that he had a conversation with Israeli President Isaac Herzog on Tuesday and extended an invitation for an official visit to Australia at the earliest opportunity.
