Australia's parliament has voted for sweeping gun law reforms and a crackdown on hate speech, a month after two attackers shot 15 people dead at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach.
Both bills passed the House of Representatives and Senate at a special sitting late on Tuesday. The gun reform measures include a national gun buyback scheme and new checks on firearm licence applications.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that the Bondi gunmen would not legally have had access to firearms if such a law had been in place prior to the attack, which marked the country's worst mass shooting in decades.
Politicians faced immense pressure post-event, emphasizing the government’s need to strengthen laws preventing such incidents in the future amid rising antisemitism concerns within the Jewish community.
The reforms include stricter firearm import controls and better information sharing among intelligence agencies to limit access to gun licenses. The buyback scheme is designed to target surplus and newly restricted firearms, aiming to reduce Australia’s estimated four million registered guns.
The hate speech reforms were initially part of a larger bill but were split due to opposition concerns. However, after negotiations, a version deemed acceptable to both parties was passed, strengthening regulations against extremist organizations and raising penalties for incitement of violence.
The opposition's support was crucial for the legislation, with Liberal Party members emphasizing the need for defined boundaries to safeguard free speech while promoting safety. The legislation is set to undergo a review every two years to ensure it remains effective and relevant.
