By Roots Globak Desk
The New South Wales government has moved to fast-track a controversial suite of legislation aimed at tightening gun ownership and curbing protest rights in response to the Bondi mass shootings. The rapid recall of parliament to debate the measures has sparked a fierce debate, drawing criticism from an unlikely coalition of civil libertarians and pro-gun advocates.
Premier Chris Minns defended the urgency of the reforms on Monday, acknowledging that while some might feel the changes have “gone too far,” they are essential to maintaining community safety and social cohesion.
The proposed legislation introduces strict caps on firearm ownership, expands police powers regarding public assemblies, and criminalizes specific slogans deemed to incite violence.
Crackdown on Protest and Speech
Central to the new laws is a ban on the phrase “globalise the intifada.” Premier Minns stated that the chant, often heard at pro-Palestinian demonstrations, constitutes “an invitation to violence.”
“It leads to a culture and environment of heightened disunity,” Minns said. “That is what it means… not in the Middle East, not in Israel or Gaza but here in Sydney.”
The term “intifada,” historically referring to Palestinian uprisings against Israeli occupation, is viewed by some as a call for violent resistance against Jewish people, while others interpret it as a slogan for peaceful resistance.
Under the new laws, police will gain expanded powers to restrict demonstrations near places of worship and to remove face coverings from protesters suspected of committing offenses—including low-level breaches. Previously, such powers were reserved for indictable offenses.
The move has been welcomed by the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies. President David Ossip described the ban on specific chants as a “watershed moment” in confronting hate speech.
“The right to protest… has never included the right to hide your face and shout slogans calling for violence against one’s fellow Australians,” Ossip said.
However, civil rights groups warn the legislation overreaches. Timothy Roberts, president of the NSW Council for Civil Liberties, argued the laws ignore a recent Supreme Court decision that deemed “move-on powers” at religious sites a violation of Australia’s implied freedom of political communication.
“The laws introduced today are an affront to our right to assemble… they damage our democracy,” Roberts said, accusing the Premier of misunderstanding the nature of peace. “Passing laws that oppress some parts of our community in the wake of an attack… drives us further apart.”
Gun Reforms and “Scapegoating”
In a significant shift for firearm regulation, NSW license holders will now be capped at owning four firearms. Exceptions will remain for farmers and sport shooters, who may own up to ten. The laws also mandate more frequent license renewals, shifting from a five-year to a two-year cycle.
The reform follows the revelation that one of the gunmen involved in the Bondi shooting, Sajid Akram, possessed six registered firearms.
Walter Mikac, a gun control advocate whose wife and daughters were killed in the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, praised the changes for closing “critical gaps” in the system.
However, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers party has condemned the move. Mark Banasiak, a representative for the party, argued that the state’s 260,000 law-abiding gun owners were being “punished” for government failures.
“We’re diverting away from what the real problem is,” Banasiak said, pointing instead to a “climate of hate and division” that agencies failed to address.
Emergency Powers
The legislative package also includes provisions allowing police to ban protests entirely for up to three months following a terrorist attack—a measure described by Palestine Action Group spokesperson Josh Lees as “incredibly draconian.”
Lees expressed concern that the Bondi tragedy is being used to alter the fundamental dynamics of Australian democracy. “Australia is seen as a safe country where freedom of speech is very important,” he noted, warning that these values are now under threat.
Parliament is expected to vote on the measures this week.
