Australian Parliament backs tighter gun, hate crime laws after Bondi attack

Al JazeeraCenterEN 2 min read 100% complete by Al Jazeera StaffJanuary 20, 2026 at 09:16 AM

AI Summary

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In January 2026, the Australian House of Representatives passed legislation to tighten gun control and hate crime laws following a mass shooting at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration in December 2025 that killed fifteen people. The proposed laws include a national gun buyback scheme, stricter gun license checks, and a crackdown on hate crimes. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke stated the attack, carried out by individuals allegedly inspired by ISIL (ISIS), demanded a comprehensive response. The bills must still be approved by the Senate, where the gun control laws face opposition from the Liberal-National Coalition, despite expected support from the Greens. The anti-hate laws are likely to pass with Liberal Party support. The new firearms rules will incorporate intelligence service input for background checks on gun permits.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Liberal Party 50% Andrew Wallace 50% Naveed 50% Sajid Akram 60% Ahmed al-Ahmed 60% House of Representatives 60% Senate ×260% Tony Burke ×270% ISIL (ISIS) 70% Liberal-National Coalition ×270% Bondi Beach ×380% Australia ×390%

Keywords

gun control 90% hate crime 80% bondi attack 80% gun violence 70% gun laws 70% parliament 60% gun buyback scheme 50% anti-semitism 50% background checks 40%