WEB DESK: Australia’s lower house has passed laws for a national gun buyback, stricter background checks, and tougher penalties for hate crimes following last month’s mass shooting at a Jewish festival that left 15 dead.
Two bills on gun control and anti-hate measures now head to the Senate. The Greens back the gun laws, expected to pass despite opposition from the Liberal-National coalition, while the anti-hate measures have some Liberal Party support.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke linked the Bondi Beach attack to hatred and firearm access, stressing government responsibility to address both. The plan includes a major gun buyback, tighter background checks using intelligence data, and limits to reduce the nation’s 4.1 million firearms from last year.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called an early parliament session to address gun violence and antisemitism. The gun bill passed 96-45, with criticism from coalition members like Shadow Attorney-General Andrew Wallace over its impact on law-abiding gun owners and trades.
The anti-hate bill proposes up to 12 years in prison for targeting religious figures and powers to ban hate groups or revoke visas. Passing 116-7 with Nationals abstaining, it addresses extremism linked to incidents like the Bondi attack, where suspects were reportedly inspired by Islamic State.
Initially bundled together, the laws were split after opposition and Greens criticism. New South Wales also tightened individual gun limits and police powers during terror events, while extended protest restrictions in Sydney have drawn backlash over potential impacts on democratic freedoms.
