Australia’s New South Wales passed broad new gun control and anti-terrorism laws on Wednesday – tightening firearm ownership, banning public display of terror symbols, and expanding police powers to curb protests – following the Bondi Beach mass shooting.
The state parliament passed the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill early morning after the upper house approved the bill by 18 votes to eight during an emergency sitting.
Premier Chris Minns said not all residents of New South Wales would support the tough reforms, but his government was doing everything possible to keep people safe, in the wake of the Dec. 14 shooting at a Jewish Hannukkah celebration, where 15 people were killed and dozens wounded.
"Sydney and New South Wales has changed forever as a result of that terrorist activity," Minns told reporters.
The bill passed the lower house Tuesday with support from the governing center-left Labor and the opposition Liberal party. The rural-focused National Party, the Liberals' junior coalition partner, opposed the gun reforms, arguing the ownership caps would unfairly disadvantage farmers.
