NSW to Recall Parliament for Urgent Gun and Protest Law Reforms After Bondi Beach Shooting

The Australian state of New South Wales will recall parliament next week to pass sweeping reforms to gun ownership and protest laws following the country’s deadliest mass shooting in more than 30 years. The move comes just days after a deadly attack at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach, an incident that has shocked the nation and intensified concerns about antisemitism and violent extremism in Australia.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns announced on Wednesday that parliament would reconvene on December 22 to consider what he described as “urgent” legislative changes. Proposed reforms include limiting the number of firearms a single individual can own, tightening access to certain high-powered rifles and shotguns, and reviewing laws around large street protests after terror-related incidents. Minns said the goal is to reduce further tensions and help restore calm across the community, emphasizing the need for unity rather than division during the summer period.

The attack, which occurred on Sunday, was allegedly carried out by a father and son, Sajid Akram, 50, and his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram. Sajid Akram was shot dead by police at the scene, while his son survived and emerged from a coma earlier this week. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed that the surviving suspect would be charged soon, though police said formal questioning was delayed while medication wore off. He remains under heavy police guard in a Sydney hospital.

Investigators revealed the accused attackers had recently traveled to the southern Philippines, a region associated with Islamist militancy, and authorities believe the attack was inspired by Islamic State ideology. The government and intelligence agencies are now under pressure to explain how the perpetrators were able to legally obtain powerful firearms, especially given that Naveed Akram had previously been briefly investigated for extremist links in 2019.

Funerals for the Jewish victims began on Wednesday, including a service for Rabbi Eli Schlanger, a respected community leader and father of five. Among the victims were a Holocaust survivor, a married couple, and a 10-year-old girl, Matilda, whose death has deeply moved Australians nationwide. As Sydney continues to mourn, calls for tougher gun control and stronger action against antisemitism are growing louder.