Australia Passes Tough New Gun and Hate Crime Laws After Bondi Shooting

Australia has enacted sweeping new gun control and anti-hate legislation following the country’s deadliest mass shooting in decades, which targeted a Jewish festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach last month.

Two bills—one tightening gun laws and another strengthening penalties for hate crimes—passed both the House of Representatives and the Senate late Tuesday during a special recall of parliament.

The gun control legislation passed with the support of the Greens but was opposed by the conservative Liberal–National coalition. The anti-hate bill cleared parliament with backing from the Liberal Party, while the Greens voted against it.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the December 14 attack, which killed 15 people during Hanukkah celebrations, was carried out by individuals with “hate in their hearts and guns in their hands.”

“The tragic events at Bondi demand a comprehensive response from government,” Burke said. “We must counter both the motivation and the method.”

A father and son accused of carrying out the attack allegedly used high-powered firearms that were legally obtained, despite the son having previously come to the attention of Australia’s domestic intelligence agency.

Parliament recalled for emergency session

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalled parliament early from its summer recess for a two-day special session, responding to public outrage over the shooting and renewed concern about antisemitism and gun access.

The gun bill authorizes the largest national firearms buyback since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, where 35 people were killed, an event that reshaped Australia’s gun laws. The reforms also tighten firearm import rules and strengthen background checks for gun licences issued by states, incorporating intelligence assessments from the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation.

Australia recorded a total of 4.1 million firearms last year, according to government figures, including more than 1.1 million in New South Wales, the state where the Bondi attack occurred.

“The sheer number of firearms currently circulating within the Australian community is unsustainable,” Burke said.

The legislation passed the lower house 96–45 and the Senate 38–26, without coalition support. Liberal shadow attorney-general Andrew Wallace criticized the reforms as punishing law-abiding gun owners.

“This bill reveals the contempt the government has for the million gun owners of Australia,” Wallace said, arguing that firearms are essential tools for many rural and regional workers.

Hate crime penalties strengthened

A second bill increases penalties for hate crimes, including prison sentences of up to 12 years when religious officials or preachers are involved, and allows the government to ban groups deemed to promote hatred. It also grants new powers to cancel or deny visas to individuals who spread hate.

The hate crime bill passed the House of Representatives by 116–7 and the Senate 38–22. Liberal lawmakers supported the measure after Labor agreed to amendments requiring consultation with the opposition leader before listing or delisting extremist organizations. The Nationals abstained, while the Greens opposed the bill, warning it could have a “chilling effect” on protest and political speech.

Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the law targets those who support violence against people because of immutable characteristics, adding that such conduct fuels extremism and terrorism. Police have said the alleged Bondi attackers were inspired by the Islamic State group.

The government had initially planned to introduce the reforms as a single bill, but opposition from both the coalition and the Greens forced Labor to split the package and drop a proposed offense of racial vilification.

Separately, New South Wales has announced its own measures, including limiting individuals to owning no more than four firearms and expanding police powers to restrict protests during declared terrorist incidents.