Australia Pushes New Gun Laws After Terror Attack

Federal and state leaders agreed to revisit Australia’s national gun framework following a deadly terrorist attack, signaling another push toward expanded firearm restrictions.

Australia’s federal and state governments have agreed to pursue tougher gun laws following a recent terrorist attack, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese calling for urgent national action.

Speaking after the attack at Bondi Beach, Albanese said firearm regulation would be raised at an emergency meeting of the National Cabinet held Monday, December 15. “The government is prepared to take whatever actions are necessary,” he said, including strengthening gun laws.

Firearms regulation in Australia is primarily handled by states and territories. That authority was unified after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when the federal government, with support from all states and territories, implemented the National Firearms Agreement.

The agreement created a nationwide buyback program, imposed a national firearms registry, established a 28-day waiting period for gun purchases, set a minimum ownership age of 18, required secure storage, and mandated a “genuine reason” for firearm ownership.

At Monday’s meeting, National Cabinet members agreed to renegotiate the National Firearms Agreement. Proposed changes include accelerating the rollout of a national firearms registry, capping the number of guns an individual may own, ending lifetime licenses, restricting lawful firearm types and modifications, and requiring Australian citizenship to obtain a license.

Leaders also agreed to expand the use of criminal intelligence data when assessing firearm license applications.

In a joint statement, the National Cabinet said it was committed to combating “anti-Semitism, hate, violence and terrorism,” while emphasizing national coordination on counterterrorism, social cohesion, and public safety.

“Leaders agreed that strong, decisive and focused action was needed on gun law reform as an immediate priority,” the statement said, specifically citing the renegotiation of the National Firearms Agreement.

The renewed push follows a mass-casualty attack in which 16 people, including the shooter, were killed and 40 others injured during a gathering celebrating the first day of Chanukah. Authorities said a father and son allegedly carried out the attack.

Police previously confirmed the father held a Category A/B firearms license and legally owned the six firearms used, including a shotgun and a bolt-action rifle.

Authorities announced overnight that the 24-year-old son had been charged with 59 offenses. The charges include committing a terrorist act, 15 counts of murder, and 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to murder.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has since recalled Parliament ahead of Christmas to debate additional gun law reforms at the state level.

What This Means for the United States and the Second Amendment

Australia’s response once again highlights a familiar pattern: when violent crime occurs, governments focus on expanding gun control, even when the weapons involved were legally owned.

For American gun owners, this reinforces concerns that lawful ownership and licensing do not shield firearms from future restrictions.

It also underscores the fundamental difference between Australia’s firearm framework and the U.S. constitutional system, where the Second Amendment recognizes an individual right that cannot be renegotiated by executive action.

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