Politicians in Australia will return to Canberra on Monday to honor the victims of the December 14 terror attack in Bondi, which left 15 people dead. The attack, carried out by gunmen targeting a Jewish celebration, has prompted a swift political response aimed at preventing future tragedies through new legislation.
A condolence motion will be presented in Parliament, coinciding with the introduction of proposed laws to combat hate speech and strengthen gun control measures. The House of Representatives will convene as recent polling indicates a decline in public support for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, following the Bondi incident. According to a Newspoll conducted for The Australian, Albanese’s personal approval rating dropped by five points to 42 percent, while the Opposition Leader Sussan Ley saw a modest increase to 28 percent.
The same poll reveals a shift in voter preferences, with One Nation rising by seven points to 22 percent, surpassing the coalition, which fell three points to 21 percent. The Labor Party’s primary vote decreased by four points to 32 percent, while the Greens fell by one point to 12 percent. Another poll, the Resolve Political Monitor conducted for Nine Newspapers, mirrored these trends, showing Albanese’s approval rating at 35 percent and Labor’s primary vote at 30 percent.
In response to the Bondi tragedy, the government had initially planned to introduce a comprehensive bill aimed at criminalizing hate speech and tightening gun laws. However, pushback from various political factions led to a decision to separate the legislation into two distinct bills. The gun control legislation includes provisions for a promised gun buyback, a measure agreed upon in a national cabinet deal involving states and territories.
Notably, one of the assailants, Sajid Akram, held a license for six firearms despite his son, Naveed Akram, being previously flagged by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) for potential links to extremist activities. Current figures from the Department of Home Affairs indicate a record 4.1 million firearms are in circulation in Australia, surpassing the numbers recorded during the Port Arthur massacre three decades ago.
Both bills are scheduled to be introduced in the House of Representatives on Tuesday morning and will likely move quickly to the Senate, where the government holds a majority. A parliamentary inquiry is underway to review the proposed legislation, with findings expected by Monday morning.
The government anticipates support from the Greens for the gun control measures, but the fate of the hate speech legislation remains uncertain. Labor aims to negotiate with the opposition to facilitate the passage of this contentious bill through the Senate by Tuesday evening. Senators are preparing for an extensive debate, which may extend into Wednesday morning.
The Greens have expressed concerns about the hate speech measures, suggesting they could infringe on political freedoms, such as the right to protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. Meanwhile, the coalition has indicated a willingness to consider Labor’s proposals but remains apprehensive about the implications for freedom of speech, even after a divisive racial vilification clause was removed.
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