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Australia fast-tracks tougher gun and hate laws after Bondi Beach shooting
Australia's politicians have fast-tracked reforms to toughen gun control and hate crime laws in response to December's Bondi Beach shooting.
The House of Representatives met in a special session to vote for a national gun buyback scheme, tighter background checks for firearms licences and tougher penalties for those spreading hate. The legislation will now go to the Senate for debate, but is expected to pass, despite some opposition.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke described the reforms as targeting people with "hate in their hearts and guns in their hands". Police allege that the father and son involved in the 14 December shooting that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration were inspired by the Islamic State militant group.
Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder. His father, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalled parliament early from its summer break for this week's two-day session to debate tougher curbs after the shooting, which shocked the nation and prompted calls for more action on gun control and antisemitism. The proposed gun control measures include tougher background checks for firearm licences, using intelligence information from Australia's domestic spy agency.
The bill will also enable the largest national buyback scheme since a similar campaign after a 1996 massacre in Tasmania's Port Arthur, in which a lone gunman killed 35 people. While Mr Burke described the number of firearms circulating within Australia as "unsustainable.
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