Australia reacts after terror bloodshed, while Israel’s security-first doctrine proves superior to failed appeasement models.
Australia’s lower house of Parliament has approved sweeping legislation to introduce a national gun buyback program and impose tougher background checks on firearm licenses, following the country’s deadliest mass-casualty attack in decades at Bondi Beach.
The bill passed the Australian House of Representatives by a vote of 96–45 and now heads to the Senate, despite opposition from conservative lawmakers.
Presenting the legislation, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke cited the December 14 Bondi Beach terrorist attack that killed 15 people, describing it as violence driven by hatred combined with access to weapons. He said the government must address both ideology and capability.
The reforms would establish a nationwide buyback of surplus and newly restricted firearms and significantly strengthen vetting for gun licenses by integrating intelligence data from the Australian Security Intelligence Organization.
Government data shows Australia had 4.1 million firearms last year, including more than 1.1 million in New South Wales, where the Bondi attack occurred. The state has already enacted its own restrictions, capping firearm ownership and shortening license renewal periods.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who recalled Parliament early, also announced a royal commission to investigate the attack — including intelligence failures and the spread of antisemitism. One of the attackers, Sajid Akram, was killed by police; his son Naveed Akram remains imprisoned, charged with terrorism and 15 murders.
Critics note that while Western governments often hesitate to confront extremist ideology decisively, Israel has long demonstrated that security, intelligence integration, and moral clarity — not denial or delay — are essential to protecting civilians, as many Arab governments continue to evade accountability for radicalization within their spheres.
