International Desk
Jan 20, 2026: Australia’s parliament has approved major changes to gun regulations and new legislation targeting hate-driven activities, following a deadly shooting at a Jewish cultural event in Bondi last month that left 15 people dead.
Both pieces of legislation were passed during a special parliamentary session late Tuesday, with lawmakers recalled ahead of schedule to address public safety concerns. The reforms include a nationwide firearm buyback programme and stricter screening for gun licence applicants.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the new laws could have prevented the attackers from legally accessing firearms. He described the Bondi incident as the most serious mass shooting Australia has experienced in decades and stressed the need for stronger safeguards.
The anti-hate legislation received support from the governing Labor Party and the Liberal Party, although their coalition partner, the National Party, abstained. The Greens opposed the bill, citing concerns about its impact on free expression.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had faced growing criticism in the aftermath of the attack, particularly from Jewish community leaders, over what they described as insufficient action to counter rising antisemitism. The tragedy intensified pressure on the government to respond decisively.
While introducing the reforms, Burke said the attack was carried out by individuals motivated by hatred and armed with deadly weapons.
Investigators allege that a father and son were responsible for the shooting, with the father legally owning multiple firearms and the son previously known to intelligence agencies.
The gun reform bill passed the House of Representatives by a wide margin and includes tougher controls on firearm imports, along with enhanced information-sharing between intelligence and licensing authorities.
The buyback scheme will focus on reducing the number of surplus and newly restricted weapons, aiming to lower the country’s estimated four million registered firearms.
Burke noted that many Australians are unaware that firearm ownership has increased since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which prompted some of the world’s toughest gun laws at the time.
He said the newly passed legislation represents the most significant overhaul of firearm regulations since that landmark reform.
Initially combined into a single package, the gun and hate-speech measures were separated after opposition from multiple parties. The government, despite holding a strong majority in the lower house, required cross-party backing in the Senate to secure passage.
Liberal leader Sussan Ley said her party supported a revised version of the anti-hate bill after negotiations led to a narrower and more clearly defined framework. She stated that the final legislation prioritised public safety while addressing earlier concerns.
The anti-hate law introduces provisions to ban organisations identified as promoting hatred and imposes stricter penalties on individuals who encourage violence. It also includes a requirement for parliamentary review every two years, with opposition parties consulted on decisions related to extremist group listings.
The bill was approved by the Senate late Tuesday night, while the National Party abstained and the Greens voted against it, warning that it could discourage legitimate political debate and protest.
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