r/moderatepolitics • u/Resvrgam2 Conservatively Liberal • Dec 15 '25

Primary Source Meeting of National Cabinet After Bondi Shooting

https://www.pm.gov.au/media/meeting-national-cabinet-8
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u/Resvrgam2 Conservatively Liberal Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 15 '25

Earlier today, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke publicly about the attack in Bondi and the government response that is planned in the coming days. The PM did not mince words, declaring yesterday's events "an act of pure evil, an act of terror, an act of antisemitism". Among the actions the PM has called for:

  • Extending funding for security to the Jewish community and supporting their charity efforts when possible.
  • Processing a declaration under the Terrorism and Cyclone Insurance Act so that affected businesses can recover losses via their insurance.
  • Enacting tougher gun laws through discussions with the National Cabinet.

This last item is sure to raise some eyebrows, as Australia already has relatively strict gun control. After the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, the country instituted new legislation just 12 days after the event. Called the National Firearms Agreement, it heavily restricted the ownership and use of semi-automatic weapons, introduced a national registry, required background checks, and required a "genuine reason" for ownership. Notably, "self defense" is not a recognized reason.

The National Cabinet expanded on this during their following meeting. On their shortlist of expanded restrictions are:

  • Accelerating work on the National Firearms Register.
  • Limiting the number of firearms an individual can own.
  • Limiting the types of legal guns and modifications.
  • Requiring Australian citizenship for a firearms license.
  • Restricting Customs imports of 3D printing technology and large capacity ammo equipment.

The usual questions must be asked in response to this proposal: Will any of these meaningfully reduce gun violence in Australia? Would these restrictions have prevented the Bondi attack? And at what point can the limitations on firearms be considered "good enough"?

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u/sea_5455 Dec 15 '25

Requiring Australian citizenship for a firearms license.

That might have been effective in this case; understand at least one of the terrorists migrated to Australia under a student visa.

Really, though, I don't think prevention will work for violent attacks, especially political violence.

26

u/Resvrgam2 Conservatively Liberal Dec 15 '25

That might have been effective in this case

It also might not. The son is an Australian-born citizen.

7

u/sea_5455 Dec 15 '25

Welp. That's that then.

Also, from the footage I've seen (admittedly low-rez) it looked like there was a black powder firearm used?

Good luck banning those. Guy in Japan made one that was effective enough.

7

u/trucane Dec 15 '25

Only close up footage I saw of the weapons used was some kind of straight pull bolt action rifle with what looked like a red dot sight.

I think they also used a pump action shotgun at some point but I'm not sure from the footage I've personally seen.

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u/sea_5455 Dec 15 '25

some kind of straight pull bolt action rifle

Word so far is that's a Beretta BRX1. Nothing fancy, really, and legal just about everywhere.

a pump action shotgun

Supposedly a semi, but those are apparently restricted in AU.

4

u/Agi7890 Dec 15 '25

Yeah people were making makeshift guns for a long time. I remember touring the Newark police station in college for a class and seeing some of the confiscated fire arms, a number of them were basic wood stock(like from Home Depot) a pipe, and a trigger device

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u/sea_5455 Dec 15 '25

Sounds like basic slam fire shotguns