The leader of Australia’s New South Wales state said on Wednesday he will recall parliament next week to pass sweeping reforms to gun ownership and protest laws, following the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly 30 years.
Premier Chris Minns announced that parliament will reconvene on December 22 to consider what he described as “urgent” legislative changes in response to Sunday’s attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The shooting, which targeted a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, has shaken the nation and intensified concerns about rising antisemitism and violent extremism.
Details of the Bondi Beach Attack
Police allege that a father and son, Sajid Akram, 50, and Naveed Akram, 24, opened fire on the gathering, killing multiple people and injuring dozens. Sajid was shot dead by police at the scene, while Naveed was critically injured and later emerged from a coma on Tuesday.
Funerals for Jewish victims began on Wednesday, as anger grew over how the attackers were able to legally obtain high-powered rifles and shotguns. Authorities confirmed earlier this week that Sajid was originally from Hyderabad, India, and that his family was unaware of what police described as his “radical mindset.”
Investigators said the suspects had travelled to the southern Philippines weeks before the attack, and police believe the shooting was inspired by Islamic State ideology.
Proposed Changes to Gun and Protest Laws
Premier Minns said the government plans to cap the number of firearms a single individual can own and make certain types of shotguns more difficult to acquire. The state will also examine changes to protest laws, particularly restrictions on large street demonstrations following terror incidents.
“We’ve got a monumental task in front of us,” Minns told reporters. “It’s a huge responsibility to pull the community together. I think we need a summer of calm and togetherness, not division.”
The proposed protest reforms aim to reduce the risk of heightened tensions and further violence in the aftermath of extremist attacks.
Charges Pending Against Surviving Suspect
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said earlier on Wednesday that the surviving alleged gunman would be charged within hours. However, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities were waiting for medication to wear off before formally questioning Naveed Akram.
Naveed remains under heavy police guard in a Sydney hospital. Albanese also revealed that Australia’s domestic intelligence agency briefly investigated Naveed in 2019 over alleged extremist links but found no evidence at the time that he posed a threat.
Heroism and Ongoing Recovery
Albanese praised Ahmed al-Ahmed, 43, who tackled one of the shooters and helped disarm him despite being shot. Al-Ahmed was scheduled to undergo surgery on Wednesday, with family members describing him as a hero.
Meanwhile, the family of 22-year-old police officer Jack Hibbert, who was shot twice during the attack, said he lost vision in one eye and faces a long recovery, praising his courage and selflessness during the crisis.
