State pledges to rein in guns, protests amid resistance
NSW is seeking to implement tough new laws spurred by the Bondi Beach massacre to restrict rallies in the wake of terror attacks as pro-Palestinian protesters vowed to defy them.
Nearly 200 people attended a pro-Palestinian rally in Sydney late on Monday to oppose the proposals, which are expected to pass the state parliament with opposition support.
Following a mass shooting nine days ago that left 15 people dead and dozens injured, parliament was recalled to pass the measures – laws limiting gun ownership at four firearms and limiting ammunition capacity.
Prime Minister Chris Minns said on Monday that “extraordinary” measures were needed to restore a sense of security after a shooting targeted people attending seaside celebrations of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights.
“We cannot pretend that the world is the same as it was before Sunday’s terrorist incident,” he said.
“My government’s number one priority is keeping the people of NSW safe, and that means making these changes.”
He said politics should be put aside to implement “the toughest firearm reforms in the country” to protect society.
According to the protest proposal, authorities can restrict gatherings under a 14-day “Meeting Restriction Declaration” that can be extended for up to three months.
The moves came after Mr Minns accused pro-Palestinian protests of sowing anti-Semitic rhetoric, which he said could escalate into violence by “unleashing forces that the organizers of the protests cannot control”.
The rally in central Sydney on Monday took place under a heavy police presence, with participants waving Palestinian flags and banners that read: “Globalize the Intifada, the Intifada means uprising.”
Mr Minns has vowed to ban the phrase “globalising the intifada” as part of a crackdown on slogans the government says are hateful.
Protest organizer Adam Adelpour of the activist group Stop the War on Palestine said participants gathered “to mourn and stand in solidarity following the horrific terrorist attack in Bondi.”
“We are also here to oppose attempts to exploit this tragedy to attack our freedoms and silence criticism of Israel’s crimes.”
He said he was willing to oppose future government restrictions on protests, stating that he was “committed to continuing the protest”.
Pro-Palestinian protesters have denied any connection between peaceful demonstrations criticizing Israel and the Bondi shooting, the deadliest shooting in Australia in almost 30 years.
The alleged gunman, 50-year-old Sajid Akram, was shot dead by the police at the scene, while his 24-year-old son Naveed Akram, who was also shot by the police, was charged with murder and terrorism crimes.
Authorities believe the pair were inspired by the militant Sunni Muslim group Islamic State and say flags bearing that group’s emblem were found in a car the pair took to Bondi.
