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Gun laws will be significantly tightened and protests restricted for up to three months in New South Wales at the behest of the police commissioner, under an emergency set of laws introduced to the state parliament in the wake of the Bondi shooting.<\/p>\n
The bill is being debated in the lower house on Monday and is expected to pass with the support of the NSW Liberal party<\/a>, and pass the upper house on Tuesday.<\/p>\n But the NSW Nationals are expected to oppose the legislation because of the impact that the gun restrictions would have on farmers and their use in rural NSW.<\/p>\n The main elements of the changes relating to guns are: a limit of four guns per individual, except for professional shooters, who may own up to 10 guns; renewals of licences every two years; bans on belt magazines and an extension of the requirement to be a member of a shooting club for most licence categories in order to extend informal supervision of gun owners in NSW.<\/p>\n The changes to the protest laws have already drawn strong criticisms from civil liberties groups and the Greens.<\/p>\n The laws give the NSW police commissioner, with the concurrence of the minister, the power to ban protests for three months after a terrorist attack.<\/p>\n It allows police to ban protests in a particular area and the whole state, and gives police new powers to remove face coverings.<\/p>\n Sign up: AU Breaking News email<\/sub><\/a><\/p>\n The bill also introduces new offences for using certain phrases, with the premier suggesting that it will include \u201cglobalise the intifada.\u201d<\/p>\n In a statement on Monday morning, the Nationals leader, Gurmesh Singh, said his party would not support changes he said would impose \u201carbitrary limits and doesn\u2019t give our regional businesses the tools they need to do their jobs\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThe proposed reforms would not have stopped last Sunday\u2019s attack and fail to On Monday, the Greens\u2019 justice spokesperson, Sue Higginson, described the anti-protest laws as \u201cthe most draconian, authoritarian anti-protest laws this country has ever seen\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no doubt this power that the premier is asking NSW parliament to pass today and tomorrow is unconstitutional,\u201d she said, speaking outside parliament. Guardian Australia understands the Greens will move amendments to the bill in the upper house.<\/p>\n In a statement released after a party room meeting on Monday morning, Sloane said the Liberals would support the bill, but added the opposition had \u201cserious reservations about the way the government has sought to rush this legislation through parliament\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere has been a clear lack of meaningful engagement with key stakeholders, including the opposition and crossbench, stakeholders and those responsible for implementation.\u201d<\/p>\n The shadow attorney general flagged the Liberals may move amendments to further toughen the laws.<\/p>\n The NSW parliament has reconvened on Monday and Tuesday this week to rush through the changes. Moving a motion of condolence for the 15 victims of the attack at the start of the session, the premier, Chris Minns<\/a>, told MPs: \u201cWe must make these changes\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cI know I speak for all members of this parliament, all members of this parliament, when I say to the Jewish people of this state, this is your home, this has always been your home, and we must do everything we possibly can to ensure that you are safe and you are protected in this city.\u201d<\/p>\n More details soon \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n
address the root cause of the issue \u2013 antisemitism,\u201d he said. The Nationals\u2019 opposition to the bill comes after NSW Farmers and shooting bodies spoke out against the changes.<\/p>\n