• Australia's lower house votes for stricter gun control and hate crime laws following the Bondi mass shooting.
• The new laws include a national gun buyback scheme and enhanced background checks.
• Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke emphasizes the need to counter hate and gun violence.
• Legislation faced opposition from conservative lawmakers but has broad support among other parties.
• The Bondi Beach shooting on December 14 resulted in 15 deaths, raising national concerns over gun safety.

In response to the tragic shooting at Bondi Beach, which resulted in the deaths of 15 people during a Jewish festival, Australia’s lower house of Parliament has passed comprehensive legislation aimed at enhancing gun control and combating hate crimes. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke articulated that these new measures would establish a national gun buyback programme and tighten background checks. He emphasized that the gunmen involved in the attack had “hate in their hearts and guns in their hands,” highlighting the urgent need for action, according to BBC, Channel News Asia, and Reuters.

The bill was approved by a vote of 96 to 45 and is set to advance to the Senate, where support from the Greens party is anticipated. Alongside the gun control measures, the government is also addressing proposed reforms to combat hate speech, with Burke stating that the Bondi attack "demand[s] a comprehensive response from government," including measures to prevent violence driven by hate, according to BBC and Reuters.

Australia faces rising concerns about gun ownership, with statistics revealing over 4 million registered firearms, the highest number since the 1996 gun reforms following the Port Arthur massacre. Burke stated, "the sheer number of firearms currently circulating within the Australian community is unsustainable," indicating the need for decisive action to reduce this figure through the new buyback scheme, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.

Opposition from conservative lawmakers, who accuse the government of overlooking rising antisemitism and failing to recognize the perspective of gun owners, has characterized the debate surrounding the legislation. However, parliamentary leaders are particularly focused on the necessity of preventing future tragedies, indicating a significant shift in policy following the Bondi shooting, according to Channel News Asia and Reuters.