Australia’s House of Representatives on Tuesday passed two major laws, tightening gun control and strengthening anti-hate efforts, following the country’s deadliest mass shooting last month.
According to Reuters, the legislation was approved by a vote of 96 to 45, despite opposition from conservative lawmakers. The bills now move to the upper house, the Senate, for debate.
The measures in the bills include a national gun buyback scheme, stricter background checks for firearms licences and tougher action against hate crimes.
The reforms were prompted by the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where two gunmen opened fire during a Jewish event marking the first night of Hanukkah. At least 15 people were killed and 42 injured in the attacks. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87. The alleged attackers were a father and son, aged 50 and 24.
Introducing the bills, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke referred to the Bondi attack, saying that it 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 the government,” Burke said. “As a government, we must do everything we can to counter both the motivation and the method,” he added.
A Reuters report said that Australia recorded a total of 4.1 million firearms last year, with more than 1.1 million registered in New South Wales, the country’s most populous state and the site of the Bondi attack. In reference to this data, Burke said, “The sheer number of firearms currently circulating within the Australian community is unsustainable.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalled parliament from its summer recess for a special two-day session to fast-track the reforms, after the shooting shocked the nation and renewed calls for stronger gun laws.
About the law:
Under the proposed laws, the federal government will establish a national gun buyback program in cooperation with state governments. The reforms also include tighter import controls on firearms and accessories, including restrictions on belt-fed ammunition, magazines holding more than 30 rounds, silencers and speed loaders. Open-ended import permits will be abolished.
Background checks for gun owners will become more rigorous and more frequent, with improved information sharing between governments and security agencies. The bills also allow for the sharing of firearms-related information with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, subject to authorisation by senior federal officials.
In addition, Commonwealth approval will be required to import certain firearms and accessories, including handguns and repeating straight-pull rifles and shotguns.
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) , Western Australia’s Minister for Police, Road Safety and Tourism urged unity in the wake of the attack.
“This is a time for the community and for our nation to come together in the wake of Bondi. This should not be a blue-state or a red-state issue,” he said.
“Different political colours don’t matter. We’ve gone through an experience here in Western Australia that has made our state safer, and if we can help the rest of the country be safer too, it’s a good thing.”
The changes were passed with the support of the Greens. The Coalition voted against the bills, with opposition driven in part by the Nationals. Nationals leader David Littleproud described the reforms as “a cheap political diversion.” Coalition lawmakers argued that the measures unfairly target sporting shooters, farmers and pest controllers for the actions of the alleged Bondi attackers.
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