A legislative package to toughen firearm laws, ban the display of terrorist symbols, and create emergency protest limitations passed multiple New South Wales Parliamentary readings by Wednesday, in response to last Sunday’s Bondi Beach massacre.
The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 passed three legislative assembly readings on Monday and was passed with an amendment by the legislative council, as left-wing and pro-Palestinian activist groups staged protests against what they argued was a restriction of freedom of protest. As of the time of writing, the bill had been returned to the legislative assembly for review.
The bill contains a series of amendments, including the restriction on protests. The police minister would be able to temporarily restrict public assembly in an area for 14 days if there was a belief of risk of harassment, intimidation, or violence. Police would also gain the power to require a person to remove a face covering if the person was believed to have participated in an offense.
The knowing display of prohibited terrorist organizations’ symbols would be made an offense, with the bill’s explanatory notes referring to the ISIS flag as an example - the same flag reported to have been found in the vehicle of the perpetrators of the Bondi Beach massacre.
The bulk of the bill was devoted to gun control. The bill would cut the legal capacity of firearms to 10 rounds and place straight pull-bolt action and pump action rifles under a more restricted licence class. A firearms owner would be limited to up to four firearms, and they must be an Australian citizen. The validity of licenses was reduced from five to two years.
Australian pro-Palestinian group protests laws
The Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) and other activist organizations held a press conference on Wednesday, condemning the protest laws and announcing a constitutional challenge.
“As governments move to restrict protest and silence voices, defending our rights takes sustained work - in the media, in public, and beyond moments like this,” APAN said on Instagram.
Stand for Palestine Australia held protests at Sydney City Hall on Tuesday, with protesters arguing that their right to protest a supposed “genocide” in Gaza was under threat.
In videos posted by the organization to Instagram, activists asserted that the Bondi Beach attack was being unfairly linked to the pro-Palestinian movement. The massacre was being exploited by the government to crack down on free speech and expression, a Stand for Palestine activist said in a video.
Fifteen people were murdered and 40 wounded by two gunmen in what Australian officials regard as an antisemitic terrorist attack. The New South Wales Police shared progress for two of the wounded victims on Tuesday.
A New South Wales Police officer wounded in the attack awoke from a coma on Tuesday, and another was discharged from the hospital, the officers’ families announced.
Constable Scott Dyson awoke from his medically induced coma for the first time on Tuesday. He had been in a coma since the terrorist attack. According to Dyson’s family, he has undergone near-daily surgery, but had been growing stronger each day until he awoke.
“There is still a long way to go in his recovery, but this is a positive sign,” the family said in a statement.
Probationary Constable Jack Hibbert was announced to have been discharged from the hospital on the same day.
“While he is home, he is still recovering and will need space, support, and continued positive thoughts during this time,” said Hibbert’s family. “We couldn’t ask for anything more - having our Jack home, especially for Christmas, truly feels like a miracle.”
Hibbert was shot during the attack by the father and son terrorist team, suffering one bullet wound to his head and another to his shoulder, according to a Wednesday statement from the family. While “miraculously” surviving and undergoing multiple surgeries, he lost vision in one of his eyes. The 22-year-old had only been in the police force for four months when he was patrolling the beach.
The NSW police had suffered other casualties, with retired detective sergeant Peter Meagher numbered among the victims of the attack. Meagher had been working as a freelance photographer, covering the Hanukkah celebrations.
On Thursday, his family remembered him for his volunteer work and as an avid Rugby fan.
“The tragic irony that Peter spent so long in the dangerous front line as a police officer and was struck down in retirement while pursuing his passion for taking photos is hard for us to comprehend,” said the family.