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Monday, January 12, 2026
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has recalled the Australian Parliament early to propose new hate speech and gun laws in response to the Bondi Beach shooting on 14 December last year. He declared that new legislation would recognise hate crimes as a serious offence and that he would establish a gun buyback scheme across the country. Albanese stated in Canberra, “The terrorists at Bondi Beach have hatred in their minds but guns in their hands. This law will deal with both and we need to deal with both.” The recalling has came a week after Albanese announced a royal commission into antisemitism in Australia regarding the circumstances of the shooting.
The Australian government has been looking to introduce stronger hate speech laws, including a proposal to create a list of organisations considered “hate” organisations. It will be illegal for people to participate in these groups in any form. Bans on prohibitive symbols would be expanded and cancellation of visas by the home affairs minister will be made easier.
The gun and the hate speech laws will reportedly be proposed as part of the same bill. The Liberal-National Coalition has expressed concern regarding this. Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley remarked, “We are deeply sceptical of the prime minister’s decision to introduce a single bill that will attempt to cover multiple complex and unrelated policy areas.”
