Australia’s federal parliament on Tuesday advanced a new set of gun control and hate crime measures, as the government moved to address security and enforcement gaps exposed by last month’s attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
Two separate bills, one targeting firearm regulation and the other focused on hate-motivated offences, were approved by the House of Representatives following debate during a special parliamentary sitting. The legislation was introduced after a mass shooting at a Jewish festival on December 14 resulted in 15 deaths.
Bondi Attack Drives New Gun and Hate Crime Legislation
Both measures will now be taken up by the Senate, where lawmakers are expected to debate them later this week. Broader support across party lines is anticipated for the hate crime bill, while the gun reforms face resistance from the conservative Liberal-National Coalition, despite expected backing from the Greens.
Addressing parliament, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the attack had underscored the need for a response that went beyond policing alone. The government, he said, must confront both the spread of extremist ideology and the access to weapons that can turn such beliefs into violence.
A national gun buyback scheme forms a central part of the firearm legislation, alongside expanded background checks for licence applicants. Greater involvement by intelligence and security agencies would be permitted under the proposed system, giving authorities a wider view when assessing whether individuals should be allowed to own firearms.
Australian Gun and Hate Crime Legislation Faces Senate Debate
Stronger penalties for crimes driven by religious or racial hatred are set out in the second bill, which also seeks to improve coordination between federal and state law enforcement bodies. Ministers argue that existing laws have struggled to keep pace with the changing nature of hate-based violence.
Urgency was signalled by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s decision to recall parliament from its summer recess for a two-day session focused on the reforms. Officials have said the suspected attackers were influenced by the ISIL (ISIS) group, though investigations remain ongoing.
Concerns about the firearm bill have been raised by opposition lawmakers, who argue the changes risk overreaching. Shadow Attorney General Andrew Wallace said the legislation showed what he described as a lack of respect for Australians who legally own guns.
A significant update to Australia’s gun control and hate crime framework would result from the package, if approved by the Senate, reinforcing the government’s emphasis on prevention, enforcement and public safety.
Source: Aljazeera News