An Illawarra-based MP has declared that proposed tougher gun laws will fail to stop violent extremist attacks, in the wake of the deadly Bondi terrorist massacre.
Debate Ignited After Bondi Atrocity
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MLC Mark Banasiak has criticised calls to tighten firearm regulations following Sunday's attack, where a father and son opened fire on a Jewish community Hanukkah event, killing 15 people. The gunmen, identified as Sajid Akram and his son, used single-shot rifles in the assault.
NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed the elder terrorist, Sajid Akram, held a valid gun licence. In response, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has vowed to reform national gun laws, pointing to Western Australia's 2024 restrictions as a potential model.
WA's system includes a stringent "fit and proper person" test and limits the number of firearms a hunting licensee can own. Mr Albanese has also suggested implementing periodic licence reviews to detect potential radicalisation.
"Laws Punish Compliance, Not Extremism"
However, Mr Banasiak, a former president of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia's Illawarra branch, argues this approach is misguided. In a statement, he said Western Australia-style laws would merely punish lawful gun owners without addressing the root cause of violent extremism.
"They may look tough, but they won't prevent attacks," Mr Banasiak stated. "Licensing did not cause this attack. Extremism did. This was not a gap in the law - this was a gap in intervention."
The MP was unavailable for further questions on Tuesday but directed attention to a statement on his party's Facebook page, which echoed his position.
Greens Push for "Real Reform Based on Safety"
The stance from the Shooters Party contrasts sharply with that of the NSW Greens. The party's justice spokeswoman, Sue Higginson, said her party would work with the government to enact meaningful reform.
"It's unfathomable that a young man had been examined by ASIO for his association with terrorism, and yet his father was able to obtain a gun licence and register six firearms," Ms Higginson said. "That is a system that is not working and it needs fixing."
Ms Higginson called for a cap on the number of guns an individual can own, stricter controls on eligibility, and the removal of recreational hunting as a genuine reason for firearm ownership.
The debate revisits Australia's long history with gun control, most notably the sweeping reforms enacted after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which restricted semi-automatic weapons. Commentators have noted the death toll in Bondi could have been far higher had the attackers used automatic firearms.
The tragedy has once again forced a national conversation about balancing public safety, lawful gun ownership, and the complex challenge of preventing homegrown extremism.
