In a decisive move following the horrific Bondi Beach terror attack, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday that parliament will be urgently recalled next week to introduce sweeping legislation targeting hate speech and tightening gun controls.
Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Albanese revealed that both houses of parliament will convene on January 19 and 20, 2026—well ahead of the scheduled February 2 session. This emergency session aims to combat rising antisemitism and extremism in the wake of the attack, where hatred fueled the violence and firearms enabled it.
“Terrorists had hate in their hearts and guns in their hands—this law will tackle both,” Albanese declared, outlining a comprehensive reform package. The proposed bill introduces harsher penalties for hate crimes, criminalizes inciting youth toward radicalization, and bans symbols deemed harmful to society. It also imposes stricter gun licensing procedures to prevent future tragedies.
If passed, the legislation will empower the Home Affairs Minister to more easily cancel visas for hate-spreaders and designate organizations as prohibited hate groups. Prior to debate, the government plans to honor the victims with a condolence motion.
A key component is the launch of a National Guns Buyback Scheme, designed to remove illegal firearms from Australian streets, echoing successful past efforts to reduce gun violence.
Albanese emphasized his vision for a united Australia: “We want to ensure our society is one where everyone can take pride in who they are, while making it crystal clear that hate, danger, and division will not be tolerated and will be deemed illegal.”
This follows the Prime Minister’s earlier establishment of a Royal Commission on January 8 to investigate antisemitism and social cohesion post-attack—a probe representing Australia’s most thorough inquiry mechanism.
The bold response underscores the government’s commitment to national security and social harmony amid growing concerns over extremism.
