Australia Recalls Parliament to Fast-Track 'Bondi Beach Shooting Laws 2026'

"The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands—this law will deal with both." Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has taken the rare step of recalling parliament two weeks early to address the fallout from the country's deadliest shooting in nearly three decades.

Australia Bondi Beach Shooting Laws 2026: A Swift Response

The Australian government announced on Monday that both houses of parliament will reopen on January 19-20, moving up the original return date of February 3. This emergency session aims to pass a suite of reforms following the December 14 attack at a Jewish festival that left 15 people dead.

The proposed legislation targets both the tools of violence and the ideologies that fuel them. It introduces new offenses for hate preachers, stiffens penalties for hate crimes, and expands the ban on prohibited extremist symbols. Additionally, the Home Affairs Minister will gain new powers to cancel or reject visas for individuals deemed to be spreading hatred.

The Return of the National Gun Buyback

Perhaps the most significant component of the new laws is the launch of a national guns buyback scheme. According to official reports, this will be the largest effort since Australia drastically overhauled its firearm laws following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, where 35 people were killed. The government also plans to impose much stricter checks for all gun license applicants.