Australian state passes tougher gun laws

SYDNEY — Australia's most populous state passed sweeping new gun and anti-terror rules on Wednesday following the mass shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach, tightening firearm ownership, banning public display of terror symbols and strengthening police power to curb protests.

The New South Wales state parliament passed the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill early morning after the upper house approved the bill by 18 votes to 8 during an emergency sitting.

The state's Premier Chris Minns said not all residents of New South Wales would support the tough reforms but his government was doing everything possible to keep people safe, in the wake of the Dec 14 shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, where 15 people were killed and dozens wounded.

"Sydney and New South Wales has changed forever as a result of that terrorist activity," Minns told reporters.

The bill passed the lower house on Tuesday with support from the governing Labor Party and the opposition Liberal Party. The rural-focused National Party — the Liberal's junior coalition partner — opposed the gun reforms, arguing the ownership caps would unfairly disadvantage farmers.

The Bondi Beach gun attack, Australia's deadliest in almost three decades, prompted calls for stricter gun laws and tougher action against antisemitism.

Under the new gun laws, individual licenses will be capped at four, while farmers will be permitted to own up to 10 guns.

Gun club membership will be mandatory for all firearms license-holders.

Curbs on protests

Police will be granted more powers to impose restrictions on protests for up to three months after a declared terror attack.

Public display of flags and symbols of prohibited militant organizations has been outlawed and offenders will be jailed for up to two years or fined A$22,000 ($14,770).

A broad coalition of groups has vowed a constitutional legal challenge to the anti-protest laws.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he had asked the governor-general to institute a special honors list for first responders and other heroes from the Bondi Beach mass shooting, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported on Wednesday.

The recipients, who would be announced next year, would include police, medical personnel and members of the community who rushed to help in the wake of the terror attack, Albanese said.

Those who had risked their own safety to help strangers deserved public recognition, he said.

Agencies - Xinhua