TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Australia’s National Cabinet has agreed to pursue tighter gun laws following a mass shooting that targeted a Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing at least 15 people.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on Monday, December 15, 2025, that the government would move quickly to propose stricter national firearms regulations.
Albanese said the cabinet would examine a range of measures, including limiting gun permits to citizens, capping the number of firearms an individual can own, and narrowing the categories of legal weapons.
The move follows revelations that one of the shooters had legally accumulated six firearms. Authorities said the attackers were a father and son, one of whom survived and remains hospitalized.
“The government is prepared to take whatever action is necessary. Included in that is the need for tougher gun laws,” Albanese told reporters, as quoted by Arab News. “People’s circumstances can change. People can be radicalized over a period of time. Licenses should not be in perpetuity.”
Support from Police, States
The Australian Federal Police Association welcomed the cabinet’s decision, saying stronger gun regulations would improve public safety and enhance crime prevention efforts. In a statement cited by Al Jazeera, the association said it “strongly supports the National Cabinet’s agreement aimed at reducing firearm-related risks.”
Albanese said some proposed measures would require cooperation between federal and state governments.
“Some laws are commonwealth and some laws are implemented by the states,” he said. “What we want to do is to make sure that we’re all completely on the same page.”
The prime minister plans to formally present the proposal at a national cabinet meeting later on Monday, attended by state and territory leaders.
Deadliest Shooting in Decades
At least 38 people were hospitalized following Sunday’s attack, which occurred as crowds gathered for a Hanukkah celebration on one of Australia’s most iconic beaches. Victims included a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi, and a Holocaust survivor.
The incident is the deadliest mass shooting in Australia in nearly three decades, despite the country’s strict gun control regime introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, where 35 people were killed.
Albanese described the Bondi Beach attack as an antisemitic act of terrorism that struck at the heart of Australian society.
Calls for Broader Social Reform
While supporting tighter gun laws, experts have urged the government to address deeper social divisions. Samara McPhedran, a senior researcher at Griffith University, told Al Jazeera that political rhetoric over recent years has become increasingly polarizing.
“Politicians across the spectrum have used divisive language around race, religion, and culture,” she said. “We are now seeing the consequences of that.”
McPhedran called for a more inclusive and collective approach to tackling social tensions alongside legislative reforms.
Shooter Background Under Scrutiny
Authorities said the surviving suspect, a 24-year-old Australian-born man, is likely to face criminal charges once his condition stabilizes.
His father, who died at the scene, had arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998 and later obtained a gun license that allowed him to possess rifles or shotguns for approved purposes such as hunting or sport shooting. Self-defense is not recognized as a valid reason under Australian law.
Police have declined to disclose further details to avoid jeopardizing legal proceedings.
Rising Concerns Over Antisemitism
The attack has reignited debate over whether the government has done enough to counter rising antisemitism. Jewish leaders and survivors questioned how the perpetrators were able to carry out the attack without prior detection.
“There has been a lot of oversight,” said Lawrence Stand, whose daughter attended the event. “People have warned about this, and the government still did not do enough.”
Alex Ryvchin, spokesperson for the Executive Council of Australian Jewry, called for a thorough investigation. “The government’s fundamental duty is to protect its citizens. There has been a serious failure,” he said.
Victims and Acts of Courage
Authorities have not formally released the names of all victims, aged between 10 and 87, though several identities emerged in media reports. Among those killed was Rabbi Eli Schlanger, an assistant rabbi at Chabad of Bondi and one of the event’s organizers.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed that an Israeli citizen was among the victims, while French President Emmanuel Macron said a French national was also killed.
The attack unfolded as thousands visited Bondi Beach, including families attending the Chanukah by the Sea event, which featured food stalls, children’s activities, and cultural performances.
Amid the tragedy, Australians praised a bystander who was filmed disarming one of the gunmen. The man, identified as Ahmed al Ahmed, a 42-year-old Syrian-born shop owner, was shot while intervening and is undergoing multiple surgeries.
National Response
Australia is home to around 117,000 Jews, most of whom live in Sydney and Melbourne. In recent months, those cities have seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, including arson attacks on synagogues, vandalism, and assaults.
Albanese pledged national unity in response to the violence.
“There is no place in Australia for antisemitism,” he said. “This must be a moment where Australians stand together with our Jewish community.”
Authorities have not linked the attack to any foreign government. While Albanese previously blamed Iran for earlier incidents of antisemitic violence, officials said there is no evidence connecting Tehran to Sunday’s shooting.
Read: Indonesia Condemns Mass Shooting at Australia's Bondi Beach
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