Australia's NSW poised for gun law reform after Bondi attack

Sydney: Australia's most populous state, where the Bondi Beach shooting took place just over a week ago, was preparing to pass new gun and hate speech laws.

New South Wales (NSW) has convened an emergency parliamentary session to push through what it calls the "toughest firearm reforms in the country." The vote was expected later on Tuesday or in the early hours of Wednesday.

The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 passed the NSW Legislative Assembly, the lower house, on Monday and was expected to also get approval from the upper house.

The move comes after the Bondi mass shooting on December 14, in which 15 people were killed and more were wounded in what authorities described as an antisemitic terrorist attack.

Responding to political pressure following the attack, state and federal governments have outlined proposals for gun law reforms and a comprehensive hate speech ban.

Where does the public stand on the new gun restrictions?
The vast majority of Australians across the political spectrum want a reform of gun laws, according to a new poll published Tuesday.

The Resolve Political Monitor poll found three-quarters of people in the country want tougher regulation. Restricting gun access ranked among the top priorities, alongside tackling crime and preventing terrorist attacks.

In nearly all Australian states and territories, there is currently no limit on the number of guns an individual can own. In NSW, for example, 75 people own more than 100 guns each, according to NSW police data, and one license holder has 298 weapons.

NSW introducing curbs on protests and hate speech
In addition to firearm restrictions, the NSW government wants to limit public assemblies and protests in certain areas following a terrorist attack.

Under the bill, the police commissioner can suspend an authorised protest in a specific area for 14 days if the assembly is likely to cause people to fear harassment, intimidation, or violence and it also bans the display of 'terrorist symbols,' including the flag of the 'IS.'

Australia's federal government, meanwhile, is pushing for laws that criminalise hate preaching, penalise attempts to radicalise minors, and ban membership in registered extremist groups. It also plans a gun buyback, the largest since 1996, paying owners to surrender surplus, newly banned, and illegal firearms.