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Australia Tightens Gun Control, Hate Crime Laws After Bondi Beach Shooting

The Australian Parliament has passed tougher gun control and hate crime laws in response to last December's terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. The new gun laws create a national buyback scheme, tighten import controls, and strengthen background checks. Concurrently, the hate crime legislation grants powers to designate hate groups and cancel visas for individuals spreading extremist views. The laws were passed after parliament reconvened and paid tribute to the 15 victims of the shooting.

Key Points: Australia Passes Stricter Gun Control and Hate Crime Laws

  • National firearm buyback scheme established
  • Tighter gun import controls for citizens only
  • Stronger background checks and license vetting
  • New powers to designate "hate groups"
  • Visa cancellations for spreading extremist views
2 min read

Australian parliament passes stricter gun control, hate crime laws

Australian Parliament passes new firearm buyback scheme, import controls, and hate crime legislation following the Bondi Beach terror attack.

"We must not dehumanise each other, because dehumanisation is what leads to exactly what happened in Bondi. - Josh Burns"

Canberra, Jan 20

Australian Parliament on Tuesday passed tougher gun control and hate crime laws in response to last month's Bondi Beach shooting during a Jewish festival.

The gun control laws, which establish a national firearm buyback scheme and tighten import controls, passed both houses with support from the Greens party.

The legislation will also strengthen background checks for gun license holders and applicants, improve information sharing between security agencies, restrict gun imports to Australian citizens only, and impose tighter limits on the types of firearms that can be imported, Xinhua News Agency reported.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese pledged decisive action on strengthening gun laws after 15 people were fatally shot in a terrorist attack that targeted a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach on December 14. Authorities said in the wake of the attack that one of the two gunmen had a firearms license and legally owned six guns.

The hate crime laws will grant powers to designate organizations as "hate groups," allow a minister to cancel or refuse visas for individuals who spread hateful or extremist views, and create stronger offenses for advocating violence or preaching hate to children.

Australian neo-Nazi group the National Socialist Network disbanded last week in response to the new hate speech laws.

On Monday, Australia's federal parliament has paid tribute to the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting after being reconvened to debate new laws proposed in response to the terror attack.

The federal parliament on Monday morning observed a minute of silence as a motion was tabled to honour the 15 victims of the attack that targeted an event celebrating the Jewish festival of Hanukkah at the iconic beach in Sydney's eastern suburbs on December 14.

Addressing the parliament, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said that Monday should have been just "another day" for the victims, reports Xinhua news agency.

"Instead, our parliament comes together in sorrow to offer our nation's condolences to the people who knew and loved them best," he said. Josh Burns, one of the most prominent Jewish members of Albanese's Labor Party government, said that Australia's response to the attack would define the country.

"We must not dehumanise each other, because dehumanisation is what leads to exactly what happened in Bondi," he said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Respect for taking a strong stand against hate groups. The part about canceling visas for spreading extremist views is crucial. Hate speech online is a global problem. Hope the laws are implemented effectively. 🙏
A
Aman W
Good move, but a bit reactive. They had a licensed gun owner with six weapons commit this act. The system clearly failed beforehand. The new laws are necessary, but preventing such individuals from getting licenses in the first place is the real challenge.
S
Sarah B
The focus on protecting children from hate preaching is so important. The mental and emotional safety of the next generation is at stake. A national minute of silence is a powerful gesture of unity.
V
Vikram M
Interesting to see the Greens party supporting gun control. Shows cross-party consensus on security. In our diverse society, laws against hate speech must be balanced with freedom of expression, but targeting violence advocacy is a no-brainer.
K
Karthik V
The neo-Nazi group disbanding already is a result! Shows the law has teeth. Tightening import controls to citizens only makes sense. Public safety should always come first. Hope other nations take note.

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