Australian Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese has pledged a review of his country’s gun laws, saying that his cabinet will discuss gun laws today after mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney killed at least 15 people and wounded 40.
The Australian government has yet to name the suspected attackers, identifying them only as a 50-year-old man and his 24-year-old son. The father died in a shootout with police, while the son is currently being treated at a local hospital.
According to police, one of the suspects – a 50-year-old man – had a licence for the weapons used in the attack.
Albanese’s government faces scrutiny following a deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which took place a day earlier, during a local Hanukkah celebration.
“The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary, including, if that is the need, for tougher gun laws.”
Anthony Albanese
Albanese said that he would propose “limits on the number of guns that can be used or licensed by individuals” as well as “a review of licences over a period of time.”
He praised gun restrictions introduced by the government of John Howard after an attacker killed 35 people and injured 23 at a popular tourist site in the southern island state of Tasmania in 1996.
Australia introduced some of the world’s strictest gun laws, including bans on automatic and semiautomatic rifles and shotguns, after that incident.
The 1996 reforms, introduced under former Prime Minister John Howard, were hailed as a success after Australia saw no mass shootings occur for close to two decades.
“Quite clearly, the Howard government’s gun laws have made an enormous difference in Australia, and are a proud moment of reform, quite rightly, achieved across the Parliament with bipartisan support.
“If we need to toughen these up, if there’s anything we can do, I’m certainly up for it.”
Anthony Albanese
Chris Minns, the Premier of New South Wales, where the shooting took place, also told reporters that he would be reviewing gun laws.
“We want to make sure that prospective reform and change in New South Wales has a lasting impact. It’s not the last time I’ll be mentioning it, and you can expect action soon.”
Chris Minns
Few hours later, Albanese met Australia’s Chief intergovernmental forum to discuss tightening gun laws.
The National Cabinet – made up of the PM, state and territory Premiers and Chief Ministers – were joined by the New South Wales Police Commissioner, who oversees the Bondi Beach area.
Albanese told the forum in his opening remarks that people are “really hurting,” adding, “What they’re looking for is confidence going forward.”
Although the Cabinet implemented Australia’s National Firearms Register last year, Albanese said, “we need to, I think, accelerate the work in that area.”
Albanese Pledges Support To Protect Jewish Community
Also, the Australian Prime Minister said that his government would beef up funding and support to protect Jewish community members, including covering the costs of guard services.
“We’re extending the funding for the National Council for Jewish Community Security and its state-based community security groups, to provide overall security cover to the Jewish community.
“We’re also working with Jewish community organisations to see how we can best support charity efforts, including through tax-deductible status for donations.”
Anthony Albanese
In his news conference, Albanese encouraged Australians to participate in Hanukkah, sometimes called the Festival of Lights, in a show of solidarity with the country’s Jewish community.
“I would urge and join with others who have urged Australians across the country to light a candle, put it in their front window tonight at 6:47pm [19:47 GMT] to show that light will indeed defeat darkness – part of what Hanukkah celebrates, of course. We are stronger than the cowards who did this.”
Anthony Albanese
However, while Albanese and other officials urged calm, critics questioned whether the government had done enough to curtail both anti-Semitism and gun violence.
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