In the wake of the recent deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia, the country’s parliament has voted in favour of implementing a national gun buyback programme and introducing stricter checks on firearm licence applications. This move comes just a month after the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 15 people.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated that had such legislation been in place prior to the attack, which targeted a Jewish festival, the perpetrators would not have had legal access to firearms. The individuals responsible for the shooting, a father-son duo, legally owned six firearms, while the son had previously been on the radar of intelligence agencies.
The bill, which was passed by the House of Representatives with a vote of 96 to 45, will now move on to the Senate for consideration. It is expected to receive the support of the Greens party. In addition to the gun buyback scheme, which aims to reduce the country’s 4 million registered firearms, the legislation also includes stricter controls on firearm imports and improved information-sharing between intelligence agencies regarding individuals seeking gun licences.
Parliamentarians are also debating reforms to hate speech laws, with the aim of tackling anti-Semitism. This comes as a surprise, as the initial passage of the legislation through the Senate was uncertain, with members of the conservative Liberal-National coalition opposition expressing concerns that the provisions could infringe on free speech. However, late on Monday, reports indicated that Liberal leader Susan Ley had reached an agreement with the government on a watered-down version of the reforms.
Liberal MP Julian Leeser, who is Jewish, told parliament that the Bondi attack represented a “moment of choice” and that the Liberal Party’s choice was to “stand with the Jewish community and law-abiding Australians.” Meanwhile, the Greens have stated that they will not vote in favour of the reforms unless changes are made to protect all minorities and legitimate protest.
The push for tighter gun control and hate speech reform in Australia comes in the wake of the devastating Bondi shooting, which has once again highlighted the need for robust measures to address violence and intolerance in the country.
