Queensland Government Unveils New Gun Control and Hate Speech Legislation
The Queensland government, led by Premier David Crisafulli, has announced a series of legislative changes in response to recent terror attacks, including the Bondi shootings. However, gun control advocates have swiftly criticised the proposed laws, labelling them as potentially the weakest in Australia.
Key Changes to Firearms Licensing
Under the new proposals, only Australian citizens will be eligible to obtain a gun licence, with exceptions made for sporting shooters, workers, businesses, and primary producers. Police Minister Dan Purdie emphasised that this restriction will not be retroactive, meaning existing licences will not be immediately revoked. "We're not looking at going back and doing an audit to try and find out how many on the register, what their citizen status is," Purdie stated. "Moving forward, when this is passed and proclaimed, if you apply for a license, that's when this will take effect."
Unlike New South Wales, which recently capped firearm ownership at four for recreational shooters and ten for farmers, Queensland has rejected implementing similar limits. This decision has drawn sharp criticism from groups like the Alannah and Madeline Foundation. Stephen Bendle, a senior advocacy advisor, expressed disappointment, saying, "Queensland will have the weakest gun laws in Australia, despite the premier's rhetoric. None of the initiatives announced today does anything to prevent a Bondi or Wieambilla tragedy."
Enhanced Penalties and New Offences
The legislation includes several measures aimed at strengthening penalties for firearms-related crimes:
- Mandatory minimum sentences for drive-by shootings.
- Increased penalties for stealing firearms and ammunition, as well as for gun trafficking.
- New offences to prevent the ownership of 3D-printed weapons.
- A loophole closure allowing police to investigate individuals planning terror attacks, even without recorded convictions.
Premier Crisafulli has reiterated that his primary focus in drafting these laws is addressing antisemitism, while also making it easier to remove firearms from "terrorists and criminals."
Controversial Hate Speech Reforms
In a parallel move, the government is introducing hate speech legislation that grants the attorney general the authority to ban specific slogans, including the pro-Palestine phrase "from the river to the sea." A new offence will criminalise the public distribution, display, or recitation of proscribed phrases intended to cause menace, harassment, or offence, with penalties of up to two years in jail.
This has sparked backlash from civil liberties groups and the Greens, who describe the measures as "Orwellian" and an attack on free speech. Greens MP Michael Berkman argued, "The government is making itself the thought police. If they decide your words are offensive, you can go to jail for them. Is that the kind of democracy we want to live in?" Terry O'Gorman, vice-president of the Queensland Council of Civil Liberties, added that such bans are an affront to free speech rights protected since the Bjelke-Petersen era.
Rejection of National Gun Buyback
Queensland has also declined to participate in a national gun buyback scheme sponsored by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, further distancing itself from federal efforts to harmonise gun control across Australia. This stance has been met with concern from advocates who call for greater consistency in gun reforms.
As the government prepares to announce the third part of its response to the Bondi shootings, the debate over balancing public safety with civil liberties continues to intensify. Justice for Palestine is reportedly considering a legal challenge against the new antisemitism legislation, highlighting the ongoing tensions surrounding these sweeping changes.
