Australia Toughens Hate Crime, Gun Laws After 15 Killed In Bondi Beach Attack

Last Updated:January 20, 2026, 19:09 IST

Australia passed stricter hate crime and gun laws after the deadly December 14 shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach during a Jewish Hanukkah event, led by Sajid Akram and Naveed.

Australia vowed a crackdown on antisemitism after the deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach. (Reuters)

Australia on Tuesday passed tougher hate crime and gun laws, weeks after 15 people, including a child, were killed during a Jewish festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach.

According to AFP, lawmakers in both houses of parliament voted in favour of the legislation in response to the December 14 shooting at Sydney’s most famous beach.

In December, a Pakistani-origin father and son, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed, allegedly attacked a Jewish Hanukkah celebration.

The victims were among thousands of revellers who had flocked to Bondi Beach, an icon of Australia’s cultural life, for the ‘Chanukah by the Sea’ event to celebrate the start of the eight-day Hanukkah, also spelt Chanukah, festival. The shooting sparked anger over the failure to shield Jewish Australians from harm.

The massacre at one of Australia’s most popular beaches followed a wave of antisemitic attacks that have roiled the country over the past year. It was the deadliest shooting in almost three decades in a country with strict gun control laws.

“The terrorists had hate in their hearts, but they also had high-powered rifles in their hands," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told the lower house of parliament. “We’re taking action on both – tackling antisemitism, tackling hate, and getting dangerous guns off our streets."

The legislative reforms on hate speech and guns were voted on separately on Tuesday.

According to AFP, the hate speech legislation toughens laws and penalties for people seeking to spread hate and radicalisation, or to promote violence.

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