BREAKING: NSW Parliament to Be Recalled for Emergency Gun Reform Debate After Bondi Terror Attack
- Premier Chris Minns vows to fast-track new laws to restrict firearms and protest activity in the wake of the devastating attack
- Proposed reforms include limits on the number of guns a licensed shooter can own and restrictions on mass demonstrations during terror threats
- The recall comes as it’s revealed the Bondi gunman was licensed for six registered firearms, with no cap on the number of guns an individual can hold in NSW
The New South Wales parliament will be recalled in a shock move next week to tackle urgent gun reform in the aftermath of the Bondi terror attack. Premier Chris Minns announced the extraordinary sitting, which will take place on December 22 and 23, to push through new laws aimed at tightening gun ownership and restricting protest activity.
Among the proposed reforms are limits on the number of firearms a licensed shooter can own, with the government seeking to reclassify straight shotguns and prohibit belt-fed ammunition magazines. The legislation would also remove the right of shooters to appeal to the NSW Civil and Administrative tribunal when a licence is revoked.
Premier Minns warned that the current lack of regulation posed a significant risk to public safety, particularly in the wake of the Bondi attack. “My concern is that a mass demonstration in this combustible situation with our multicultural community could light a flame that would be impossible to extinguish,” he said.
The government’s move comes as it’s revealed the Bondi gunman, Sajid Akram, was licensed for six registered firearms, all of which were seized in the hours after the attack. NSW is currently one of the only states without a cap on the number of firearms an individual can hold, with some owners registered to hold as many as 298 guns.
Research by the Australia Institute found NSW has the highest number of guns of any Australian jurisdiction, with over 1.1 million firearms registered across the state. The proposed reforms are part of a broader national push to strengthen gun laws, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convening an urgent meeting of national cabinet to discuss the issue.
Mr Minns said the government would share the proposed bill with the opposition as soon as possible, with the aim of fast-tracking the legislation through parliament. The move has been welcomed by those calling for tougher gun laws, who argue that the current system is putting the community at risk.