Sydney: Australia has passed sweeping new gun control and anti-hate laws in response to the country’s deadliest mass shooting in decades, following a deadly attack at a Jewish festival in Sydney last month.
Parliament approved the measures after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese recalled lawmakers for a rare special session, cutting short the summer break. The move came after a December 14 shooting near Bondi Beach that killed 15 people and shocked the nation.
The reforms include a nationwide gun buyback scheme, tougher background checks for firearm licences, and stricter penalties for hate-related crimes. The gun laws were passed with the support of the Greens, while the anti-hate legislation received backing from the opposition Liberal Party.
Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the attack exposed dangerous gaps in both gun regulation and efforts to counter extremism. He said the violence showed the need to address both the motives behind hate crimes and access to deadly weapons.
The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their hearts and guns in their hands.
Today we passed new laws that deal with both.
Combatting antisemitism and cracking down on guns.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 20, 2026
The gun reforms pave the way for Australia’s largest national buyback since 1996, when a similar program followed the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania that left 35 people dead. The new laws also tighten firearm import rules and strengthen background checks by allowing states to use intelligence information when assessing licence applications.
Government figures show Australia had a record 4.1 million firearms last year, with more than one million in New South Wales alone. Burke said the volume of weapons in the community had reached unsustainable levels.
The gun bill passed the lower house by 96 votes to 45 and cleared the Senate 38 to 26, despite strong opposition from the conservative Liberal-National coalition. Opposition figures argued the government was unfairly targeting law-abiding gun owners, many of whom rely on firearms for work in rural areas.
A separate bill strengthens penalties for hate crimes, including prison terms of up to 12 years in cases involving religious officials or preachers. It also allows authorities to ban organisations accused of promoting hatred and gives the government new powers to cancel or deny visas to individuals linked to such activity.
We will do everything it takes to keep Australians safe. pic.twitter.com/IzxQnpGwjB
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) January 20, 2026
That bill passed comfortably in both chambers after the government agreed to consult the opposition leader on decisions involving extremist group listings. The Greens opposed the measure, warning it could restrict political protest and free speech, while coalition partners abstained.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the law targets violence directed at people because of their identity and aims to stop extremism before it escalates into terrorism. Police have said the alleged Bondi attackers were influenced by the Islamic State group.
The government originally planned to introduce the reforms as a single package but split them into two bills after criticism from across the political spectrum. Separately, New South Wales has announced its own measures, including limits on the number of guns an individual can own and expanded police powers during terror-related incidents.
Together, the changes mark one of Australia’s toughest responses to gun violence and hate crimes since the landmark reforms of the 1990s.
