Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wasted no time after the Bondi Beach terror strike, declaring Monday that parliament stands ready for recall to enact game-changing laws curbing hate speech and reinforcing gun controls.
Set for January 19-20, 2026, the special sittings in Canberra leapfrog the standard February start. Amid surging antisemitism and zealotry, Albanese captured the urgency: “Hate dwelled in their souls, guns in their grasp—legislation will dismantle both.”
This sweeping bill packs punches: stiffer hate crime penalties, criminal charges for luring youth to extremism, symbol bans fostering discord, and fortified gun licensing to avert repeats.
Upon approval, it equips the Home Minister to swiftly deny or revoke visas for hate peddlers and classify outfits as banned hate networks. A victims’ memorial motion will open proceedings, blending grief with governance.
The reforms herald a National Guns Buyback Scheme to exorcise illegal weapons, drawing from Australia’s arsenal of successful disarmament campaigns.
Albanese painted a hopeful horizon: “We build a society ripe for pride in one’s self, while stamping out hate, threats, and divisive acts as unlawful.”
This escalation from his January 8 Royal Commission launch—Australia’s apex inquiry format—probes antisemitism and social rifts ignited by Bondi, promising thorough remedies.
In steering through this storm, Albanese cements his administration’s dedication to a secure, cohesive national fabric.