Sydney: Australian lawmakers have approved sweeping new measures to tackle hate crime and gun violence following last month’s mass shooting at a Jewish festival in Sydney’s Bondi Beach.
The House of Representatives voted in favour of a national gun buyback scheme, stricter gun licence requirements and tougher laws targeting hate-related offences. The reforms are part of a broader government push to strengthen public safety and prevent future acts of extremist violence.
The proposed gun control package is expected to pass with the support of the Greens, despite opposition from the conservative Liberal-National Coalition. Meanwhile, the anti-hate legislation is likely to secure bipartisan backing, with the Liberal Party signalling support for the measures.
Under the new framework, firearms licence applications will be subject to enhanced background checks, including input from national intelligence agencies. The government says this will close critical gaps in the vetting process and improve early detection of potential threats.
However, the proposals have drawn criticism from some opposition figures. Shadow Attorney General Andrew Wallace said the legislation demonstrated the contempt the government has for the million gun owners of Australia.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalled parliament from its summer recess for a special two-day sitting to fast-track the legislation, underscoring the urgency the government attaches to the reforms.
The legislation now heads to the Senate, where its passage would mark one of Australia’s most significant overhauls of gun control and hate crime laws in years.
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