GUN CONTROL – AUSTRALIA

Labor’s hate speech laws pass Senate in late-night vote as Nationals split from Liberals to oppose bill

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Original article by Tom McIlroy, Dan Jervis-Bardy
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 21-Jan-26

The federal government’s hate speech bill has been passed by both houses of parliament, after Labor secured a deal with Opposition leader Sussan Ley regarding further changes to the legislation. Amongst other things, the legislation creates a new aggravated offence for religious or spiritual leaders who advocate violence, while people who join designated hate groups or provide them with funding could be jailed. The Senate voted 38-22 to pass the bill late on Tuesday night, despite the Nationals voting against it after all of their proposed amendments where rejected; the bill had been passed by the lower house earlier in the day. Meanwhile, the government’s legislation to establish a national gun buyback scheme has been passed with the support of the Greens.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Queensland rejects gun buyback plan

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Original article by Brittney Levinson, Jesinta Burton, Sumeyya Ilanbey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 3 : 20-Jan-26

A Queensland government spokesman has advised that it will not support the proposed national gun buyback scheme, contending that the state will not be distracted from the core issue of anti-Semitism. The federal government’s gun buyback scheme will be jointly funded by the states and territories, although Tasmania and the Northern Territory oppose this aspect of the scheme. Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia CEO James Walsh says gun owners should receive "fair market value" for surrendering their firearms; he notes that unlike the 1996 gun buyback, the government’s proposed scheme does not guarantee fair compensation for gun owners and sellers.

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SHOOTING INDUSTRY FOUNDATION OF AUSTRALIA

Labor’s hate speech laws set to pass as Ley and Albanese cut deal on bill crafted in wake of Bondi terror attack

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Original article by Dan Jervis-Bardy, Tom McIlroy
The Guardian Australia – Page: Online : 20-Jan-26

The National Party will seek additional protections regarding the banning of hate groups when parliament debates the federal government’s hate speech laws today. However, sources within the Liberal Party say that the legislation is likely to be passed even without the Nationals’ support, after Liberal MPs agreed to vote in favour of the revised bill. Opposition leader Sussan Ley had described the previous omnibus bill as "pretty unsalvageable", but the Coalition agreed to back the hate speech provisions after Labor accepted the need to legislate gun control laws separately and make a number of changes to the hate speech bill. Legislation to establish a national gun buyback scheme is expected to be passed with the support of the Greens.

CORPORATES
NATIONAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, AUSTRALIAN GREENS

Preach hate, go to prison: PM’s sermon

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Original article by Sarah Ison, Elizabeth Pike
The Australian – Page: 1 & 4 : 13-Jan-26

The federal government aims to pass its omnibus bill on hate speech and gun control during a special two-day sitting of parliament next week. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged bipartisan support for the bill, but says he is open to "constructive suggestions" to improve it. Amongst other things, the bill is intended to target Islamic hate preachers and ban designated hate groups, with jail terms of up to 15 years for people who join or finance such groups. However, the Opposition has criticised the decision to address hate speech and a national gun buyback scheme in a single bill, contending that they are unrelated policy areas. There is also concern about an exemption from the hate speech laws if someone is merely quoting from religious texts.

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AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET

Gun laws fail to quell rising anger

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Original article by Phillip Coorey
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 1 & 2 : 17-Dec-25

The federal government is attracting growing criticism over its plans for gun controls in the wake of the Bondi Beach terrorist attack. Former prime minister John Howard is concerned that the government is using gun laws as a diversion to deflect attention from its failure to show leadership on the issue of anti-Semitism. He says Labor’s initial response to the 7 October 2023 terrorist attacks in Israel had been "weak and unconvincing"; he contends that some of the anti-Semitism that has been allowed to spread over the last two years may have been prevented if Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had taken a firmer stance from the outset. Queensland’s Premier David Crisafulli supports gun law reform but agrees that cracking down on anti-Semitism must be a priority.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET

Gun laws ‘drifting’ as critics fight deal

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 6 : 5-Oct-17

Gun Control Australia CEO Sam Lee says the Federal Government should put pressure on its state and territory counterparts to implement changes to the National Firearms Agreement. The reforms were agreed upon earlier in 2017 after extensive negotiations, but none of the states and territories have fully implemented the changes. The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia opposes the introduction of stricter gun control laws.

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GUN CONTROL AUSTRALIA, SPORTING SHOOTERS’ ASSOCIATION OF AUSTRALIA INCORPORATED, THE ALANNAH AND MADELINE FOUNDATION LIMITED, THE GREENS NSW INCORPORATED, NEW SOUTH WALES POLICE FORCE, ONE NATION PARTY

Turnbull lifts sights on gun imports

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Original article by David Crowe
The Australian – Page: 4 : 20-Oct-16

The Coalition is divided on the issue of the relaxation of gun laws. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has accused the Australia Labor Party of "demonising" gun owners. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned against changes in regulations which would allow the importation of seven-shot Adler gun into Australia, as suggested by Liberal Democratic Party senator David Leyonhjelm.

CORPORATES
AUSTRALIA. DEPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER AND CABINET, LIBERAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY, AUSTRALIAN LABOR PARTY, LIBERAL PARTY OF AUSTRALIA, VICTORIA. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, NEW SOUTH WALES. DEPT OF PREMIER AND CABINET, QUEENSLAND. DEPT OF THE PREMIER AND CABINET, GUN CONTROL AUSTRALIA