By Sarah Goff-Tunks and Caitlin Maloney
Reforms to hate speech, gun laws and the right to protest, in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, could be fast-tracked through the New South Wales Parliament this week as it convenes for an emergency session.
After vowing to “urgently examine additional measures” last week, the government’s Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 includes amendments to make it an offence to publicly display terrorist symbols, such as the ISIS flag, as well as the tightening of gun laws to limit the number of firearms that can be possessed by an individual.
It would also give the NSW Police Commissioner the power to ban protests if a terrorist act is declared, a plan that has prompted opposition from a range of politicians, civil liberties groups and other organisations.
Addressing the media earlier today Premier Chris Minns outlined what he called the “toughest firearm reforms in the country”.
“I know that this legislation change will be met with opposition… but I strongly believe that these changes to laws and legislation in NSW are fundamentally important to keep the people of this state safe,” he said.
“We can’t pretend that the world is the same as it was before that terrorist incident on Sunday.”
This crime was an attempt to marginalise and scatter, to intimidate and cause fear… on this last night of Chanukah, you (the Jewish community) have reclaimed Bondi Beach for us.
NSW Premier Chris Minns speaking at Sunday’s vigil
According to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, there are over 260,000 illicit firearms in Australia.
Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane said the Liberal Party would support the Bill, but had concerns about the reforms being rushed.
“The opposition has serious reservations about the way the government has sought to rush this legislation through parliament,” she said in a statement.
Both Minns and Sloane attended last night’s ‘Light over Darkness’ vigil, organised by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies, to commemorate the lives of the 15 people killed after father-and-son gunmen Sajid and Naveed Akram opened fire on a crowd that had gathered to celebrate the first day of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach on December 14.
“In your thousands, in your defiance, in your resistance and resolve, you have returned to these sands just seven days after a shocking crime, and have said to the terrorists, we are going nowhere,” said Minns speaking at the vigil.
“This crime was an attempt to marginalise and scatter, to intimidate and cause fear.
“Jews have stood up to this intimidation for thousands of years, and so tonight, thanks to the Jewish community of Australia, on this last night of Chanukah, you have reclaimed Bondi Beach for us.”
Candles were lit and a minute of silence was held at 6:47pm, exactly one week after the time the police initially reported the attack had begun (though subsequent video analysis shows it started at 6.41pm and ended at 6.48pm when police shot dead Sajid and wounded Naveed).
Two mourners embraced at the floral tribute during the minute of silence at 6:47pm, one week on from the shooting. Photo: Caitlin Maloney.
Sloane was met with applause from the crowd and later recounted her experience of being caught in the chaos of the shooting.
“Antisemitism has now led to the spilling of blood on our nation’s most iconic beach, a place that has for all of us been a symbol of freedom, of hope, and of the Australian spirit, of our inclusion, of our beautiful diversity,” she said.
Co-chief executive officer of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry Alex Ryvchin praised members of the public and victims who endangered their lives to protect others.
“Instead of running or taking cover, they engaged murderers armed with hunting rifles with their bare hands to distract them just long enough so that others could take cover and be saved,” he said.
“They died so that others could live.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attended the vigil but did not speak, receiving boos from the crowd.
An estimated 20,000 people attended the vigil, with crowds spilling over from the private event into the southern end of Bondi Beach.
Crowds at the vigil spilled onto the south end of Bondi Beach to pay their respects to the victims of the terror attack. Photo: Caitlin Maloney.
Bondi local Toby Raban, 33, said the community turnout to the vigil was incredible.
“To see this many people showing up at a Jewish event this close after a terrorist attack on Jews, I think is quite incredible to see the support,” he added.
“I think the way the Jewish community raised above it (the attack) and their positive way of mourning has been incredible.”
Raban was moved by the outpouring of support for the Jewish community over the past week.
“I think the number of community events that have happened in Bondi since it all happened again has been amazing,” he said.
“I’ve been here for seven years and this week has definitely made me more proud to live here than ever before.”
Zoe Sweet, 18, a resident of nearby Double Bay, was among thousands in attendance.
“It’s really shocking because I’ve grown up on Bondi Beach. I live a five minute drive away, it’s really hard,” she said.
What I think is sad, is that it took something like this to bring it about.
Elle Russell, mourner
Sweet told Central News her family knew someone who died in the attack, and now she no longer felt safe coming to the beach.
“I’m normally down here most days in summer that I can be, but it really doesn’t feel safe anymore really.”
Elle Russell, 77, travelled from Wollongong for the vigil and said she was shocked by the terrible attack on the Jewish community.
“I’ve seen the underlying hatred that’s been there for years,” she said.
“I think that it’s great that it’s brought [us] together. What I think is sad, is that it took something like this to bring it about.”
Russell was supportive of amendments to gun laws in NSW but believed that a whole of community response was needed.
“That’s only passing laws, but it’s putting them into action,” she said.
“Everyday people have to play their part too, so you know the government can legislate, but we have to be supporting those things and taking part.”
Sweet was also wary of the proposed changes to gun laws and unsure if they would be effective.
“I don’t really think it’s the laws themselves, because I mean we already have quite strict [gun] laws, it’s just people choosing to disregard them or finding ways around them.”
Attendees of the vigil paid their respects at a tribute of flowers on the Bondi beachfront. Photo: Sarah Goff-Tunks.
A petition against the proposed amendments from the Sporting Shooter’s Association Australia (SSAA) has gained almost 85,000 signatures calling for “proportionate, evidence-based and consultative firearms policy”.
“Responsible firearms owners fully support stronger oversight of terrorist and criminal activity, and stronger penalties for those who commit violent or extremist crimes,” SSAA chief executive Tom Kenyon said in a statement.
“What they do not support is being unfairly linked to terrorism or extremism through rhetoric or poorly framed policy.”
Members of the Palestine Action Group, Jewish Council, Greens and civil libertarians also voiced concerns about the proposed legislation.
Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees was highly critical of the Bill and said it would infringe on Australian’s right to protest.
“We completely oppose Chris Minns’ latest bout of knee-jerk anti-protest laws which are seeking to exploit this tragedy to take away the democratic rights of everyone,” Lees said.
“This is extreme anti-democratic laws, anti-protest laws, and again it’s built on this narrative which, I’m afraid, is false.”
The government has also proposed amendments to the Terrorism Act 2002, which would allow the police commissioner and deputy police commissioner to restrict public protests in a specific area for a period of 14 days, which could be extended for up to three months.
NSW Greens MP Sue Higginson said amendments to the Terrorism Act were unnecessary.
“Instead of spending the whole week discussing, consulting and designing the best gun laws our state and our country can have, the premier has now thrown into the mix some of the most draconian, authoritarian anti-protest laws this country has ever seen,” said Higginson.
“It impermissibly burdens the implied freedom of political communication that is embedded within our constitution.”
Lees also opposed speculation that the Palestine movement was connected to the terror attack.
“There is not a shred of evidence about such a link because none exists,” he said.
“We have marched side by side with our friends and colleagues from the Jewish community for these past two years and for many years before that.”
Messages from the community call for “peace”, “love” and to “not let evil win”. Photo: Caitlin Maloney.
The Jewish Council of Australia have also created a petition demanding Albanese and Minns “show real leadership to keep our communities safe from antisemitism, violence and racism”.
“As we all come to terms with this tragedy, we have a chance to demand reforms that address the true causes of antisemitism and racism, curb gun violence, and uphold our human rights and civil liberties,” said Sarah Shwartz, executive officer of the Jewish Council of Australia in a statement.
She added: “This past week, at a time when we should all have the space to grieve, I have been horrified as the likes of Jillian Segal, Benjamin Netanyahu, Pauline Hanson and Josh Frydenberg seized on a tragedy to advance their own divisive political agenda. They have used our grief to demonise our Muslim and Palestinian brothers and sisters, and call for censorship and the shut down of peaceful protests.”
Meanwhile, at a press conference this morning, Opposition Leader Sussan Ley called on Albanese to hold a royal commission into the terrorist attack.
“Last night at the vigil, the Jewish community made it abundantly clear they want a Commonwealth royal commission into this attack and into the hideous antisemitism that has been allowed to fester in this country,” said Ley.
“He (Albanese) must put aside his pride and take action. He has failed to respond appropriately to this terrible attack.”
Main image of Bondi Beach footbridge by Caitlin Maloney.
