In a decisive response to the devastating Bondi terror attack, the Australian government has announced it will launch a national gun buyback scheme and significantly tighten firearm ownership laws. This move marks the country's most substantial gun control initiative since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
A Nation Reels from Tragedy
The announcement follows the horrific events of Sunday evening, when gunmen opened fire on a crowd of over 1,000 people celebrating Hanukkah in Bondi's Archer Park. The attack resulted in the deaths of fifteen individuals, with dozens more sustaining injuries. One alleged attacker, Naveed Akram, faces 59 charges, while his father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead by police at the scene.
At a press conference on Friday morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that the atrocity had exposed critical weaknesses in the nation's gun laws. "The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets," he declared, emphasising the urgent need for reform.
Details of the New Gun Control Measures
The proposed buyback scheme, to be funded jointly by the federal government and state and territory authorities on a 50-50 basis, aims to reduce the estimated four million firearms currently in circulation across Australia. Mr Albanese highlighted that one of the terrorists involved in the Bondi attack held a firearm licence and legally owned six guns despite living in suburban Sydney.
"There's no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns," the Prime Minister asserted. Alongside the buyback, the government plans to introduce further restrictions, including caps on the number of firearms a person can own and making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for obtaining a gun licence.
Community Response and National Mourning
As the nation grieves, stories of heroism have emerged. Sydney store owner Ahmed al Ahmed, 43, who was filmed bravely confronting a gunman, has received a cheque for 2.5 million Australian dollars (£1.2 million) from a viral GoFundMe campaign. The fundraiser attracted donations from global figures including comedian Amy Schumer and billionaire Bill Ackman.
From his hospital bed, Mr Ahmed called for global unity, saying, "When I save the people, I do it from the heart... everyone was happy and they deserve to enjoy." Prime Minister Albanese confirmed that Sunday would be a national day of reflection, with plans for an official day of mourning in the new year developed in close consultation with the Jewish community.
The first funerals for the victims have already taken place, including that of 41-year-old London-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger. His father-in-law's tearful eulogy captured the profound loss felt by the community. Meanwhile, New South Wales Health confirmed that 15 people remain in hospital, four of whom are in a critical but stable condition.
As NSW Police lifted the Bondi Beach crime scene and increased patrols across Sydney, the charges against Naveed Akram paint a picture of the attack's scale. They include murder, terrorism, 40 counts of wounding with intent, and placing an explosive with intent to cause harm.
