Australia Tightens Gun Laws and Cracks Down on Hate Crimes Post Bondi Tragedy

Australia has enacted new laws for gun buybacks and stricter background checks after a mass shooting at a Jewish festival. Anti-hate measures have also been introduced following the attack at Bondi Beach, prompting calls for tougher gun control to prevent future violence and efforts to combat antisemitism.

Australia has enacted landmark legislation for a national gun buyback and tighter background checks in response to the worst mass shooting in decades at a Jewish festival. The laws simultaneously address gun control and hate crimes, passed during an urgent parliamentary session.

With the backing of the Greens, the measures were introduced amidst significant political opposition. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasized a need for comprehensive action, citing the attack by armed extremists at Bondi Beach that left 15 dead as a grim catalyst for change.

The new gun laws mark the most extensive reforms since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, aiming to curb firearm access and enhance import regulations. Meanwhile, stepped-up penalties for hate crimes, including harsher sentences, reflect a determined push to counter extremism, despite challenges from opposing political factions.

(With inputs from agencies.)