Australia’s New South Wales (NSW) state parliament reconvened on Monday, December 22, to vote on new legislation aimed at tightening gun ownership rules, banning the display of terror symbols, and limiting protests, following a mass shooting at Bondi Beach. The two-day parliamentary session is considering laws that would limit individuals to owning four firearms, with certain groups, such as farmers, allowed up to ten. Despite Australia’s already strict gun laws—enforced after a 1996 mass shooting that killed 35—authorities say the Bondi attack exposed loopholes. Currently in NSW, there is no strict cap on firearms if ownership is justified to police. A police registry shows over 70 people in the state own more than 100 guns, with one individual holding 298.

One of the alleged shooters, Sajid Akram, 50, was killed by police and owned six guns. His son, Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offenses, including murder and terrorism. The shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration on December 14 killed 15 people and injured dozens, prompting nationwide calls for stricter gun control and stronger measures against antisemitism.

The proposed laws would also grant police greater powers to remove face coverings at protests and ban chants such as “globalise the intifada,” which the government says incite violence. NSW Premier Chris Minns acknowledged the legislation could face opposition but emphasized it is necessary for public safety, stressing the importance of community cohesion. NSW has announced a royal commission into the attack, the highest-level government inquiry in Australia. Jewish leaders and opposition Liberal Party leader Sussan Ley have called for a national inquiry. Ley urged Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to review the royal commission’s terms of reference.

Albanese has faced criticism for allegedly not doing enough to combat rising antisemitism. During a memorial at Bondi attended by tens of thousands, sections of the crowd booed him. His government has defended its record, citing recent laws criminalizing hate speech and doxxing, and its expulsion of Iran’s ambassador over alleged antisemitic attacks. Foreign Minister Penny Wong highlighted additional counterterrorism measures, including bans on Nazi salutes.

A Sydney Morning Herald poll of 1,010 voters found Albanese’s approval rating fell 15 points in December, to -9, the lowest since his election in May. Authorities have begun clearing public tributes at Bondi Beach, which will be preserved for display at the Sydney Jewish Museum and the Australian Jewish Historical Society. Thirteen victims remain hospitalized, with four in critical but stable condition.