Bondi Attack Prompts Sweeping Legislative Reforms and Coalition Upheaval
A terror attack at Bondi Beach in December resulted in 15 fatalities and 42 injuries, allegedly carried out by a father and son, Naveed and Sajid Akram, who investigators state were inspired by Islamic State. The incident spurred immediate calls for legislative action on both gun control and hate speech, leading to significant political debate and internal upheaval within Australia's federal opposition Coalition. The legislative response saw the passage of new gun control measures and amended hate speech laws, while the Liberal Party experienced a leadership change with Angus Taylor replacing Sussan Ley as leader, and the Coalition temporarily dissolved before reunification.
The Bondi Attack and Initial Investigations
On December 14, Naveed Akram, 24, and his father, Sajid Akram, allegedly opened fire on a crowd at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah celebrations. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese characterized the event as an antisemitic terror attack inspired by Islamic State. Sajid Akram was fatally shot by police, while Naveed Akram was charged with 15 counts of murder and 59 other offenses. Initial investigations suggested the individuals acted alone.
Intelligence records indicate that ASIO investigated Naveed Akram in 2019 following intelligence alleging his and his father's support for Islamic State. ASIO concluded, after a six-month investigation, that Naveed Akram, then 17, did not adhere to or intend to engage in violent extremism. Naveed Akram was later added to and subsequently removed from a NSW Police intelligence database (Known Entity Management System) tracking potential extremists. Sajid Akram was granted a firearms license in July 2023, and the pair traveled to the Philippines, a region associated with Islamic State, prior to the attack.
A former undercover agent, identified as 'Marcus,' claimed he provided intelligence to ASIO in 2019 alleging the Akrams' terrorist affiliations, which ASIO deemed "unsubstantiated" and attributed to misidentification. ASIO stated it tragically did not anticipate the attack but denied that intelligence was not acted upon or that officers made errors. The ABC's "Four Corners" investigation into the incident, which featured Marcus's claims, prompted ASIO to issue a public statement alleging "significant errors of fact" in the broadcast, a claim the ABC denied, defending its reporting.
Historical Context and Debate on Gun Control
Australia's stringent gun laws were largely established after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which resulted in 35 fatalities. Reforms included the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), a national gun buyback program that collected over 650,000 firearms, and bans on automatic and semi-automatic weapons. Self-defense was also removed as a valid reason for firearm ownership.
Despite these measures, a report by the Australia Institute indicated over four million privately-owned firearms in Australia, nearly double the amount from two decades prior, equating to one gun for every seven Australians. The report also found that one in three firearms in New South Wales are located in major cities, and the average licensed owner possesses more than four guns. One of the alleged Bondi attackers was confirmed to own six registered firearms.
Proposed Federal Gun Control Reforms
Following the Bondi attack, Prime Minister Albanese convened an emergency meeting with state and territory leaders, resulting in pledges to tighten gun laws. Proposed federal measures included:
- Renegotiating the 1996 National Firearms Agreement.
- Accelerating the establishment of a National Firearms Register, anticipated to be operational by mid-2028.
- Implementing a national gun buyback scheme, the first of its scale since 1996.
- Increasing the use of criminal intelligence in the firearms licensing process.
- Limiting the number of legally owned firearms per license holder and restricting "open-ended" licensing.
- Making Australian citizenship a condition for firearm ownership.
- Introducing further customs restrictions on firearms and related equipment, such as items related to 3D printing and high-capacity ammunition accessories.
- Creating new criminal offenses for online content concerning the manufacture of firearms and explosives.
- Mandating intelligence agencies, such as ASIO, to conduct criminal background checks for firearms license applicants.
Roland Browne, a gun control advocate, supported a national cap of one to three firearms per license holder, while Tom Kenyon, Chief Executive of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia, argued that such caps would be ineffective and that focus should be on radicalization.
Polling by the Australia Institute indicated that 64% of Australians supported strengthening gun laws. The federal gun control legislation passed parliament with support from the Greens, while the Coalition opposed it, arguing it was a "diversion" from addressing extremism.
Introduction and Evolution of Federal Hate Speech Legislation
The Albanese government initially proposed an omnibus bill that combined gun control and hate speech provisions. However, due to significant opposition, these were separated into distinct bills. The proposed federal hate speech laws aimed to criminalize inciting racial hatred and establish a framework to ban hate groups.
Initial proposals faced criticism regarding potential impacts on free speech, the ambiguity of definitions (e.g., "ridicule," "contempt"), and a proposed exception for direct quotes from religious texts. Critics included constitutional experts, various religious leaders, civil liberties groups, the Coalition, and the Greens, who argued the laws were too rushed and could target individuals critical of foreign governments.
Following negotiations, particularly with the Liberal Party, the government refined the legislation, which passed as the "Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Act 2026." Key provisions of the final bill included:
- Banning Organizations: Grants the Minister for the Australian Federal Police authority to designate an organization as a prohibited hate group by regulation, based on advice from the Director-General of Security, agreement from the Attorney-General, and briefing the opposition leader. This can be disallowed by Parliament.
- Visa Powers: Expanded ministerial authority to cancel or refuse visas for individuals engaged in hate, vilification, or extremist conduct.
- Aggravated Offenses: Increased penalties for existing hate crimes committed by religious or spiritual leaders, including informal leaders or guest speakers.
- Prohibited Symbols: Strengthened laws against displaying prohibited symbols (e.g., swastikas, Hamas, Islamic State, Hezbollah flags), with increased penalties and a reversal of the onus of proof for legitimate purpose.
A controversial offense that would have criminalized promoting or inciting racial hatred was removed as a standalone measure. Amendments negotiated by the Liberal Party included adding "promotion of violence" to the purpose of listing a hate group, mandatory two-year reviews, and opposition leader consultation on listings and de-listings.
Constitutional experts raised concerns about vague definitions, retrospective application, and lack of procedural fairness for banned groups in the final legislation.
Queensland's Hate Speech Laws
The Queensland government also announced new hate speech reforms, which were introduced to parliament. Key provisions included:
- Proscribed Phrases: Public use of phrases such as "globalise the intifada" and "from the river to the sea" will be prohibited if intended to cause menace, harassment, or offense (maximum two years imprisonment). Queensland is the first Australian state to propose a ban on "from the river to the sea."
- Prohibited Symbols: The ban on symbols like swastikas was expanded to include Nazi emblems and flags of Hamas, Islamic State, and Hezbollah, with increased penalties (maximum two years imprisonment).
- Protections for Places of Worship: New offenses for impeding or harassing individuals attending religious services (three years imprisonment), increased penalties for assaulting or threatening religious officiants (five years imprisonment), and severe penalties for wilful damage to places of worship (seven years imprisonment).
The Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies welcomed these reforms, while the Islamic Council of Queensland criticized them as potentially infringing civil liberties and political expression. The Archdiocese of Brisbane and the Queensland Council of Unions also raised concerns about the broad discretionary power granted to the executive.
Royal Commission Established
Initially, Prime Minister Albanese resisted calls for a royal commission into antisemitism and social cohesion, citing concerns it could provide a platform for antisemites and noting that such commissions were not launched after previous tragedies. However, following sustained pressure, he reversed his position and agreed to establish a royal commission. The commission is tasked with assessing the effectiveness of intelligence and law enforcement services in preventing the Bondi attack, examining their cooperation, and determining whether legal frameworks hindered their efforts, with an initial report due by April.
Political Fallout: Coalition Split and Leadership Changes
The legislative response to the Bondi attack triggered significant political turmoil, culminating in the temporary dissolution of the federal opposition Coalition.
The Liberal and National parties disagreed over the hate speech legislation. Three Nationals senators—Bridget McKenzie, Ross Cadell, and Susan McDonald—voted against the bill in the Senate, defying Opposition Leader Sussan Ley's directive for shadow cabinet solidarity. Ley accepted their resignations. In response, Nationals leader David Littleproud led a mass resignation of all Nationals frontbenchers, demanding Ley's resignation or the reinstatement of the senators. This action formally dissolved the Coalition.
Sussan Ley's leadership came under intense scrutiny. Andrew Hastie and Angus Taylor, both from the Liberal Party's conservative right faction, emerged as potential challengers. Hastie later withdrew, clearing the path for Taylor. Taylor formally challenged Ley for the leadership, prompting a leadership ballot.
Concurrently, Nationals backbencher Colin Boyce initiated a challenge against David Littleproud for the Nationals leadership. Littleproud retained his leadership in the ballot.
Reunification of the Coalition
Following the leadership challenges, negotiations between Ley and Littleproud commenced to reunify the Coalition. Ley initially set conditions, including a six-month suspension for the three Nationals senators who crossed the floor. Littleproud resisted, demanding their reinstatement.
A reunification agreement was reached on February 4, 17 days after the split. Under the terms, all former Nationals frontbenchers were suspended from the shadow ministry until March 1 (a six-week period). Littleproud and Deputy Leader Kevin Hogan were permitted to attend shadow cabinet and other senior leadership meetings during this suspension. The agreement also incorporated new protocols to formalize unity.
New Liberal Leadership and Policy Direction
On February 9, Angus Taylor successfully challenged Sussan Ley for the leadership of the Liberal Party, winning the ballot 34-17. Senator Jane Hume was elected as Deputy Leader, defeating Ted O'Brien 30-20. Following her defeat, Sussan Ley announced her resignation from politics, which will trigger a byelection in her electorate of Farrer.
Angus Taylor announced a reshaped shadow ministry, promoting figures like Andrew Hastie (Industry and Sovereign Capability) and Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (Small Business, Skills and Training), while demoting several Ley supporters. Tim Wilson was appointed Shadow Treasurer, and Ted O’Brien became Shadow Foreign Affairs Minister.
Taylor's initial policy priorities included:
- Immigration: A hardline stance on immigration, emphasizing that "the door must be shut" to individuals not aligning with "Australian values," with aims to reduce numbers and increase standards.
- Economy: A focus on economic approaches reminiscent of the Howard government, including lower taxes, deregulation, and addressing cost-of-living and housing affordability issues. He stated the opposition would oppose any changes to the capital gains tax discount.
- Energy: An "open-minded" approach to nuclear power to reduce emissions and electricity costs, without immediately announcing specific new policies.
- Childcare: Criticism of the government's universal childcare system, advocating for greater choice and flexibility.
Impact and Ongoing Debates
The internal disarray within the Coalition, alongside its focus on internal power struggles rather than scrutinizing the government's economic performance, was widely noted. This period coincided with a significant surge in support for Pauline Hanson's One Nation party in opinion polls, sometimes surpassing the Coalition. One Nation's rise was attributed to the Coalition's internal issues and its clear messaging on immigration, net-zero policies, and free speech.
Prime Minister Albanese suggested One Nation's popularity might be temporary, while former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull argued the Liberal Party's echoing of right-wing rhetoric benefited One Nation.
The new Liberal leadership faces the challenge of unifying the party, addressing its declining electoral support, countering One Nation's influence, and presenting a compelling vision to Australian voters. The upcoming byelection in Farrer will be an early test for Angus Taylor's leadership.