As Sydney came to the Bondi Pavilion to grieve the dead and show solidarity with the Jewish community, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese was forced to defend himself from attacks from gun reform architect and former PM John Howard, the opposition, and furious members of the Jewish community who claimed the government had failed to take the threat of antisemitism seriously.
“It’s his collective failure over the last 2½ years, to do enough by words and deeds … to demonstrate his detestation of antisemitism,” Howard said in a scathing press conference.
The prime minister said the terrorists would not be successful in their aims to divide the country. He spent the morning visiting the hospital bed of Ahmed al Ahmed, who was hailed a hero after tackling one of the gunmen and undoubtedly saving lives.
Lanyon confirmed two homemade IS flags and undetonated improvised explosive devices were discovered in a car belonging to one of the gunmen. A trip by the father and son to the Philippines last month, a place known as a hotspot for Islamic extremism, is under investigation.
Lanyon also confirmed the guns used in the attack were registered and attached to the father’s firearms licence. Minns said NSW parliament will be recalled next week to consider reforms, including allowing police to consider all aspects of intelligence when deciding whether a gun licence should be granted.
Former Australian prime minister John Howard at the Bondi Pavilion memorial site.Credit: James Brickwood
“One aspect of gun law reform that is absolutely essential in NSW, and it will be controversial, is for police to use criminal intelligence, not just a criminal record, in determining whether someone should keep a gun licence or even be granted a gun licence in this state,” he said.
The incident exposes a glaring gap in the way agencies can share and use information about potentially dangerous people, gun control advocate Stephen Bendle of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation said.
“The issue of information sharing seems to have let down the community at this point,” he said. “This type of mass shooting is still a very rare event, but it would seem that more could have been done. We hope that the police investigation will ensure nothing like this can happen again.”
Other reforms being considered after a meeting of national cabinet include caps on the number of guns a person can own, and banning non-citizens from owning firearms.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane on Tuesday was reunited with the community paramedic who was with her rescuing victims at Bondi Beach while the killers were shooting on Sunday.
She told the Herald gun reform should not distract from a national debate on hate speech and antisemitism.
“We will co-operate with the premier when it comes to important reforms for gun laws, and we need to see the detail of what that is, but we are absolutely willing to step up and do whatever is necessary,” she said. “But can I say this – do not let gun reform distract us from the root cause of this evil, and it is antisemitism.”
Liberal leader Kellie Sloane comforts mourners at Bondi Beach. Credit: Janie Barrett
Her Coalition colleague, Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh, said only eradicating antisemitism would stop terror attacks, but it is appropriate for the parliament to strengthen protections for the community.
“It’s important to recognise that firearms are a tool of trade for farmers across rural and regional NSW, and there is an immense difference between our farmers and primary producers holding licenses for their work, and these extremist terrorists,” Singh said.
Legalise Cannabis MP Jeremy Buckingham wrote to the premier to propose a complete ban on storing guns in suburban homes, and instead require them to be stored at recreational shooting or hunting clubs. He described the granting of the gun licence to Akram as a “massive dropping of the ball”.
“My key concern is, why do people need to be storing these guns in the suburbs?” he said.
More Bondi terror coverage
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Bondi shooter held gun licence: The prime minister will propose strengthening Australian gun laws
Watch: Alleged Bondi gunman tells bystanders to move away, while shooting at Hanukkah crowd
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