Australia’s most populous state was set on Tuesday (Dec 23) to approve sweeping new laws tightening gun ownership and expanding police powers to restrict protests, following the nation’s deadliest mass shooting in decades that left 15 people dead at a Hanukkah event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
The New South Wales (NSW) parliament was recalled in an extraordinary session to fast-track what the state government described as the “toughest firearm reforms in the country”, amid intense political and public pressure after authorities labelled the attack an antisemitic act of terrorism.
Father and son Sajid and Naveed Akram are accused of carrying out the assault, which targeted a Jewish religious gathering and shocked a country long regarded as having some of the world’s strictest gun laws. Sajid Akram, 50, was shot dead by police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son Naveed, an Australian-born citizen, now faces multiple charges including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act.
Under the proposed NSW legislation, the number of firearms an individual can legally own would be capped at four, with a higher limit of 10 applying only to exempted categories such as farmers and professional shooters. Authorities say the measure is aimed at reducing the risk posed by high-volume gun ownership while preserving access for legitimate occupational needs.
The reforms would also ban the public display of “terrorist symbols”, including the black-and-white flag of the Islamic State (IS) group. Police say such a flag was found in a vehicle linked to one of the alleged attackers, reinforcing their claim that the shooting was ideologically motivated.
Perhaps the most controversial element of the package would grant authorities the power to prohibit protests for up to three months following a terrorist incident. The government argues the provision is necessary to prevent further violence, calm communal tensions and protect vulnerable communities during periods of heightened risk.
NSW Premier Chris Minns defended the legislation, saying it was designed to prioritise public safety. “Whether that’s on gun regulation in New South Wales, or secondly, changes to protest, in order to lower the temperature in Sydney,” Minns told reporters. The reforms were expected to pass the upper house of the state parliament late Tuesday or early Wednesday.
However, civil liberties groups and pro-Palestinian organisations have vowed to challenge the protest restrictions in court, arguing they undermine fundamental democratic rights. Palestine Action Group Sydney, one of several organisations preparing a constitutional legal challenge, accused the government of pushing through laws “without due process” and of “attacking our fundamental right to protest”.
The group also criticised what it called “unsubstantiated and plainly dishonest links between antisemitism and the Palestine solidarity movement”, warning that the legislation could be used to silence political dissent under the guise of security.
At the federal level, Australia’s government is simultaneously advancing a broader suite of national measures aimed at countering extremism and hate crimes. These include creating a new aggravated offence for hate preaching, imposing penalties on individuals accused of attempting to radicalise minors, and establishing a national register of extremist organisations that it would become illegal to join.
The federal government also plans to fund a large-scale gun buyback scheme, offering compensation to owners who surrender surplus, newly banned or illegal firearms. If implemented, it would be the largest gun buyback since 1996, when Australia dramatically overhauled its gun laws after the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which killed 35 people.
Meanwhile, fresh details have emerged about the alleged planning behind the Bondi Beach attack. Police documents released on Monday allege the two suspects underwent firearms training in rural areas of New South Wales and “meticulously planned” the assault over many months.
According to investigators, the pair recorded a video in October in which they railed against “Zionists” while seated in front of an IS flag, allegedly outlining their ideological motivations. Police also claim the men conducted a nighttime reconnaissance visit to Bondi Beach just days before the attack.
Naveed Akram was transferred from hospital to Long Bay jail in southeastern Sydney on Monday. He has yet to enter a plea, as Australia grapples with the legal, political and social fallout from one of the darkest days.
