NSW to Pass Australia's "Toughest" Gun Laws Before Christmas After Terror Attack
This piece is freely available to read. Become a paid subscriber today and help keep Mencari News financially afloat so that we can continue to pay our writers for their insight and expertise.
Today’s Article is brought to you by Empower your podcasting vision with a suite of creative solutions at your fingertips.
NSW is fast-tracking sweeping gun law reforms before Christmas, including giving police power to deny firearms licences based on criminal intelligence — even without a conviction — after Sunday’s deadly terror attack in Bondi.
What’s Changing
NSW Premier Chris Minns announced the state government will recall Parliament before Christmas to pass emergency gun law reforms in direct response to the Bondi attack that killed at least one person and injured multiple others.
The reforms mark the most significant changes to Australian gun laws since the Howard government’s response to Port Arthur in 1996.
“I’m determined to bring in the toughest gun laws in Australia,” Minns said at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Tuesday. “They’ll be significantly tightened in New South Wales.”
What’s on the Table
The National Cabinet — a meeting of all state premiers with the PM — agreed to explore four major changes:
Limiting how many guns one person can own
Restricting which gun types remain legal
Requiring Australian citizenship to own firearms
Accelerating the National Firearms Register (currently some states still use paper records)
The federal government has already committed $160 million to digitise firearms records nationwide, with $100 million going directly to states.
The Intelligence Loophole
Perhaps the most significant — and controversial — change involves how gun licences are granted.
Currently, police can only use criminal records when assessing licence applications. Minns wants to change that.
“One aspect of gun law reform that is absolutely essential in New South Wales, and it will be controversial, is for police to use criminal intelligence, not just a criminal record,” Minns said.
Translation: If police have concerns about someone — even without a conviction — they could deny or revoke a gun licence.
Why This Matters Now
The push comes after revelations that 50-year-old suspect Sajid Akram received his firearms licence in 2023 — the same period authorities were investigating his son Naveed Akram for suspected extremist links.
Commissioner Karen Lanyon confirmed the guns seized after Sunday’s attack were legally registered to Sajid Akram’s Category AB licence.
The Prime Minister emphasised that Australia’s gun laws are “only as strong as the weakest link” — meaning one state’s lax rules undermine everyone else’s safety.
What Happens Next
NSW Parliament to be recalled before Christmas
Premier Minns and WA Premier Roger Cook (incoming chair of the Council of Australian Federation) tasked with drafting national reforms
National Cabinet to review recommendations
Opposition leader (who represents the affected Bondi area) working with government on bipartisan approach
Minns said the opposition has been “incredible” in cooperating since the attack, though formal discussions on the draft bill haven’t occurred yet.
Sustaining Mencari Requires Your Support
Independent journalism costs money. Help us continue delivering in-depth investigations and unfiltered commentary on the world's real stories. Your financial contribution enables thorough investigative work and thoughtful analysis, all supported by a dedicated community committed to accuracy and transparency.
Subscribe today to unlock our full archive of investigative reporting and fearless analysis. Subscribing to independent media outlets represents more than just information consumption—it embodies a commitment to factual reporting.
Not ready to be paid subscribe, but appreciate the newsletter ? Grab us a beer or snag the exclusive ad spot at the top of next week’s newsletter.