Bondi shooting: Albanese vows tougher gun laws after ‘act of pure evil’

WEB DESK: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the Bondi shooting as “an act of pure evil, an act of terror and an act of antisemitism,” as authorities revealed new details about the father-and-son gunmen and moved to tighten the country’s gun laws.

Speaking at a press briefing, Albanese said the federal government would place tougher gun regulations on the agenda of a national cabinet meeting later in the day, including limits on the number of firearms an individual can own and periodic reviews of gun licences. “People’s circumstances change. People can be radicalised over a period of time. Licences should not be in perpetuity,” he said.

Albanese said the government was also providing support for the funerals of the victims, including facilitating travel for relatives coming from overseas. Earlier in the morning, he met police officers who had responded to the shooting, noting that many had worked through the night and that off-duty officers had rushed to the scene from as far as Newcastle and the Central Coast.

Calling Bondi Beach an iconic national landmark, Albanese said visiting the site was “a very physical reminder” of its significance and that the choice of location made the attack an “outrage”.

Authorities have since identified the two shooters as a father and son who lived in Bonnyrigg, in southwestern Sydney, about an hour’s drive from Bondi. Police believe the pair later moved to a short-term rental in Campsie, where they allegedly prepared the attack.

The younger gunman, 24, first came to the attention of authorities in October 2019, Albanese disclosed. He said the man had been examined at the time due to associations with others, but assessments found “no indication of any ongoing threat or threat of him engaging in violence”.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the son was an Australian-born citizen, while the father arrived in Australia in 1998 on a student visa, which was later converted to a partner visa and subsequent resident return visas.

In Bonnyrigg, neighbours expressed shock as police descended on the quiet suburban street where the men were registered as living. Lemanatua Fatu, who lives opposite the family home, said she was alerted by her daughter shouting for her to look outside.

“I saw lots of police, lots of cars, sirens and loudspeakers calling them to come out,” she said. “Then I saw the news, I thought, oh my goodness, it can’t be them.”

Fatu said the family appeared ordinary, adding that she often saw the younger man taking out the rubbish. “We live here as normal people. This is a good neighbourhood,” she said.

As investigations continue, Albanese said the government would empower agencies to examine what further steps could be taken to prevent similar attacks, signalling a renewed national debate over gun ownership and public safety in Australia.

Web Desk