Bondi terror attack updates: NSW parliament recalled with gun laws and protest restrictions on agenda; New Year’s Eve events at Bondi beach cancelled
Summary of the latest press briefing regarding the Bondi beach shootingsThe press briefing led by NSW Premier Chris Minns, alongside NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon, has concluded. Key takeaways include:
The NSW government will reconvene parliament on Monday, December 22, and Tuesday, December 23, to address what Minns described as “urgent legislation necessary before Christmas to ensure community safety”.
The legislation the government plans to introduce includes limits on the number of firearms individuals may possess, the reclassification of certain shotguns, restrictions on belt-fed magazines, and the removal of the NSW civil and administrative tribunal (NCAT) as an avenue for appeals.
Minns also aims to establish new regulations regarding protests declared in response to terrorism, aiming to avert what he labels “a volatile situation”.
Bondi beach and its surrounding parklands will take longer to reopen than anticipated as processing the crime scene has proven more time-consuming than expected.
Authorities are awaiting the alleged gunman, Naveed Akram, who regained consciousness yesterday afternoon, to be well enough to comprehend any charges that may be presented against him.
ShareUpdated at 03.46 GMTKey eventsShow key events onlyPlease enable JavaScript to utilize this featureThere are currently 20 individuals receiving treatment in Sydney hospitals for injuries incurred during Sunday’s shooting, according to the latest report from NSW Health. As of 4 PM, Wednesday, December 17:
One patient is in stable condition at Prince of Wales Hospital.
One patient is critically but stably conditioned, along with another stable patient at St George Hospital.
One patient is in stable condition at Sydney Eye Hospital.
Three patients are critically but stable, and one patient is stable at St Vincent’s Hospital.
One patient is critically ill, while four others are stable at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital.
Two patients are in stable condition at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick.
Three patients are in stable condition at Royal North Shore Hospital.
Two patients are in stable condition at Liverpool Hospital.
Share‘Now is not the time to restrict our civil liberties’: NSW Greens voice concerns over Minns’s proposed anti-protest lawsThe NSW Greens have expressed “serious concerns” regarding suggested new laws that would impose further restrictions on public demonstrations in the event of declared terrorism, as indicated by Premier Chris Minns during a press conference earlier today. The Greens’ justice spokesperson, Sue Higginson, commented this afternoon:
In the wake of the horrifying antisemitic Bondi Beach mass shooting, Australians are urged to unite, embrace the Jewish community, and check in on each other, and we should all respond to these calls.
We have not been called to divide communities by infringing on civil liberties. Peaceful assembly is a fundamental civil right, and now is not the moment for us to limit our civil freedoms. The government should refrain from this action.
If the government is determined to proceed with this, they must at the very least designate such powers as temporary; otherwise, this initiative will be viewed in history as disingenuous opportunism.
It is vital to distinguish between peaceful, nonviolent protests and assemblies aimed at hate speech, hate preaching, or violence. Law enforcement has numerous tools at their disposal to manage gatherings where hate speech might arise, and they should employ those tools.
Higginson asserted that the NSW government had the opportunity to enact “world-leading gun reform” alongside their support and it is “disheartening to deviate from that by attributing blame to peaceful protests in this situation.”Higginson further stated:
I have substantial concerns that these contentious changes to protest legislation are counterproductive to fostering genuine social unity at this moment. Such laws, similar to previous anti-protest regulations, appear likely to encounter significant opposition in the courts due to their potential infringement on our constitutional right to political communication.
Our protest laws are among the most stringent globally … I believe the Premier’s presumption that a disrespectful demonstration could happen is inconsistent with the immense respect, compassion, and solidarity exhibited by the people of New South Wales.
ShareUpdated at 05.25 GMTLuca IttimaniAlbanese ‘betrayed Jewish Australians’ and ‘failed’ Matilda, parents assertThe parents of Matilda, the 10-year-old girl who lost her life in Sunday’s attack, have claimed that Anthony Albanese betrayed Jewish Australians and failed the victims at Bondi beach. Matilda’s mother, Valentyna, was questioned about her feelings regarding the federal government’s response to antisemitism. She expressed to reporters:
It’s a nightmare, they let my daughter down, indeed, they did, and everyone who was there, they failed each victim.
Matilda’s father, Michael, then interjected – “let’s not get political, please” – to which Valentyna replied: “No, it’s alright, it’s alright, people should be aware.”Michael then criticized Anthony Albanese and his emphasis on gun reform in light of Bondi’s shooting:
He truly let down the Jewish population of Australia … [People] firebombed synagogues, yet it was just minor steps: ‘oh no, no, nothing to see here, nothing wrong’.
He desires strict laws regarding firearms, but I’ll tell you this: if at least half of those individuals present, the Jews, had firearms with them, perhaps that shooting would have been curtailed sooner. I’m not strongly pro-gun, but none even in security carry weapons. In Australia, Jews or not, everyone is defenseless. I’m not advocating for guns, but all forms of defense, like pepper spray, are illegal, leaving one unable to protect oneself, while criminals disregard the law.
The couple’s dialogue with reporters centered on their daughter, her character, and their attempts to find and rescue her. Before departing, Michael stated:
I trust you won’t take our words out of context … This is about Matilda.
ShareUpdated at 05.22 GMTMatilda’s parents share their experience from Sunday’s shootingLuca IttimaniMatilda had been attending the Bondi Hanukkah event every year since her birth, accompanied by her parents and occasionally her grandparents. On that Sunday in Bondi park, she and her sister left their parents sitting at the event to explore the petting zoo.Valentyna recounted to reporters:
We heard the gunshots but thought perhaps [it was] a prank, or fireworks … I didn’t realize it was serious, then my husband shouted ‘it’s a shooter, it’s a shooter.’
The couple ran in separate directions looking for their children. Michael found his daughter:
I saw her fall, and I crawled to her, took off my shirt and applied it to her wound … She was telling me it was difficult to breathe and I was reassuring her, ‘calm down, please, please, please,’ … The shooting seemed continuous [and] there was no police presence; for 10 minutes it felt endless.
Another woman had located Matilda’s sister, Summer, and embraced her amidst the chaos, Michael shared. Lifeguards and bystanders rushed to assist Matilda after the shooting ceased, including a doctor and a paramedic in their bathing suits. The couple left Summer with a friend for safety in their apartment while Matilda was transported by ambulance, before police halted Michael from driving to follow her. They were left anxious about both their daughters, unable to check on Summer as their friend’s phone had ceased functioning, and eventually reunited later. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/AP
ShareUpdated at 05.23 GMTNew Year’s Eve events at Bondi beach cancelledWaverley Council has announced the cancellation of New Year’s Eve events at Bondi beach “due to the current situation on the ground,” a spokesperson for the council confirmed. The cancelled activities include the ticketed Elrow XXL Bondi concert at Bondi Pavilion and the free family-friendly Locals Lawn. The producer of the ticketed event, Fuzzy, is expected to reach out to affected ticketholders.
ShareUpdated at 05.13 GMT10-year-old Matilda’s mother returns to Bondi Pavilion memorialLuca IttimaniMatilda, the 10-year-old victim of Sunday’s attack, has been honored by her parents as they visited Bondi Pavilion ahead of their daughter’s funeral scheduled for midday tomorrow. Matilda was described as a “beautiful soul” who enjoyed dancing and playing with her friends and her sister, Summer, stated her mother, Valentyna. She mentioned to reporters:
She envisioned herself being [a] teacher. She adored math and consistently stated: ‘I will be [a] teacher.’
Valentyna noted she had brought her son over from Ukraine and lived in Melbourne for four years, later relocating to Sydney upon meeting her partner, Michael, the father of Matilda and Summer. Summer was not with her parents on Tuesday afternoon but was at home clad in purple, her mother’s favorite color, to honor her sister’s memory. Michael told reporters:
You won’t find a person who could claim she did something unkind or wrong.
Valentyna, the mother of 10-year-old Matilda who was killed in the Bondi beach shooting, speaks to the media outside Bondi Pavilion. Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images
ShareUpdated at 05.11 GMTEarly this morning we shared the story of a vigil held by Bondi swimmers for the victims of Saturday’s attack. Here’s additional coverage of that event, complete with beautiful footage:‘This is our place’: hundreds form a human circle on the beach and ocean at Bondi beach vigil – videoShareBenita KolovosPro-Palestine phrase ‘could become a test case’ for Victoria’s new hate speech laws, police commissioner statesThe Victorian police commissioner, Mike Bush, also participated in the premier’s meeting of multifaith leaders, which he described as “very powerful”. He indicates that since the passage of the state’s anti-vilification laws in Victorian parliament earlier this year, there have been 40 inquiries into hate speech. However, he noted that “globalize the intifada,” a term used by pro-Palestinian advocates, has been criticized by Jewish organizations as inciting violence, is not classified as hate speech under the current legislation. Bush stated:
We have scrutinized it extensively. At present, we’re assessing it as not quite reaching that threshold [for hate speech], but I would certainly be interested in insight from the judicial system. Thus, it could become a test case at some point.
Bush noted that since Sunday there have been 560 police visits to Jewish religious and community sites “to ensure our presence, to prevent additional harm, but also to reassure individuals that we are here for them.”You can view the background on Victoria’s anti-vilification laws here: The Victorian police commissioner, Mike Bush. Photograph: James Ross/AAP
ShareUpdated at 04.35 GMTTom McIlroyWong thanks New Zealanders for their outpouring of support following Bondi attackThe foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has reached out to her New Zealand counterpart, Winston Peters, expressing gratitude to Kiwis for their outpouring of support in the aftermath of Sunday’s Bondi beach shooting. The two discussed the close relations shared between Australia and New Zealand, with Wong appreciating the continued cooperation between government entities in both nations, which she recognized will be crucial during this time. Wong stated:
Australia is grateful for the overwhelming support from the citizens of New Zealand. I express my appreciation to them and the New Zealand government for their solidarity in this moment.
Australia and New Zealand enjoy a uniquely close bond. Our ongoing collaboration will be vital as we collectively work to eradicate antisemitism and halt the spread of hate.
Penny Wong and Winston Peters last year. Photograph: Joel Carrett/EPAShareUpdated at 04.28 GMTBenita KolovosVictorian religious leaders did not express any worries concerning protests, states AllanThe Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allan, and Police Minister Anthony Carbines announced their intention to urge their federal colleagues to implement similar anti-vilification laws to those recently approved in Victorian parliament. Allan remarked:
It’s clear that hate doesn’t stop at the Murray River or the South Australian border, particularly in a globalized context … where overseas conflict translates into discord on our streets, and we’ve witnessed the rapid dissemination of information, including misinformation, more rapidly than ever, highlighting the necessity for enacting stronger laws to counteract this conduct.
Allan was queried if multifaith leaders had expressed concerns to her about protests in the CBD that could make Jewish community members feel unsafe. The NSW Premier, Chris Minns, indicated possible amendments to the laws surrounding protests to deter them following a terrorism declaration. Allan responded that this concern did not specifically arise during her discussion with the multifaith leaders:
That topic wasn’t raised specifically. However, what was discussed was the need … to comprehend why certain statements made on the streets can be damaging, which is why education is essential. That was the focal point of our discussion today.
She added, however, that she would carefully examine NSW’s proposed gun law alterations and was open to mirroring them in Victoria. Allan remarked:
Although parliament has concluded for 2025, it resumes on February 3, which is only about six or seven weeks away. Thus, we do have a sitting planned for early February. However, if the chance arises to act prior to then, we will.
Jacinta Allan. Photograph: James Ross/AAP
ShareUpdated at 04.32 GMTBenita KolovosVictorian government exploring ‘range of options’ to reinforce gun lawsThe Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, convened a press conference following her morning meeting with multifaith leaders. She expressed her commitment to holding regular meetings with the group, sharing information among communities, and striving to “enhance the fabric of social unity”.She stated:
What we are contending with is an extraordinarily intricate set of circumstances, where there exists no swift solution or uncomplicated answers. However, alongside these community leaders and government representatives, we are resolute in our commitment to remain united, show up at events, provide support, and also recognize the obligations associated with our leadership roles to take action.
She was accompanied by Police Minister Anthony Carbines, who attended a different meeting of federal, state, and territory police ministers earlier that day.Carbines emphasized that the group is considering a “variety of options” to tighten the nation’s firearm regulations and ensure consistency across the country:
Examples of this may include limiting the quantity of firearms any one individual can possess, and stipulating that firearm licenses require Australian citizenship. There was a recommitment to prioritize the creation of a national firearms register along with resources to expedite this as much as possible, alongside condemnation of the senseless terrorist act and the tragic loss of life, as well as recognition of the bravery of community members, law enforcement, and first responders.
The Victorian police minister, Anthony Carbines (right) and premier, Jacinta Allan, after a meeting with multifaith leaders. Photograph: James Ross/AAP
ShareUpdated at 04.23 GMTNSW likely to prohibit anyone owning more than five firearmsNino BucciRevisiting a statement from NSW Premier Chris Minns during this morning’s press briefing that underscores his commitment to enacting the most stringent gun laws in the nation. When asked how many firearms per license would be permitted under the new policy, he responded:
I do not possess a conclusive figure. It remains a topic of internal discussions. However, certainly, Western Australia is leading the country with five. But I feel that’s still excessive.
One of the two alleged terrorists, Sajid Akram, was the registered owner of six firearms, which he had acquired over a two-year span since being issued his license in 2023. Four of the firearms, inclusive of a shotgun and long-range rifles, were retrieved from the Bondi site, with two additional weapons found during subsequent police operations.
ShareUpdated at 04.17 GMTFirefighter killed by fallen tree in south-west WABriefly on other news, a 34-year-old man tragically died after a tree fell on his vehicle while he was assisting with bushfire response, according to Western Australian police. WA police issued a statement:
At approximately 8:10 PM on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, police were informed that a tree had collapsed onto a vehicle in Mindarabin within the Gnowangerup Shire.
The driver – a 34-year-old man – was part of a local farmer response unit and had previously been assisting local firefighters with a significant bushfire in the vicinity.
While his vehicle was traveling on Old Ongerup Road, a tree suddenly fell onto the vehicle, crushing the cab. Tragically, he sustained critical injuries and perished at the scene.
His death is not being treated as suspicious, and the police will compile a report for the Coroner.
ShareUpdated at 04.12 GMTBenita KolovosVictorian multifaith organizations issue ‘statement of unity and solidarity’The Victorian premier, Jacinta Allan, conducted a meeting with multifaith leaders this morning following the Bondi attack, during which the group released a collective statement of “unity and solidarity”. The statement from the coalition, which included the premier and representatives from Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, Sikh, and Christian communities, declared:
We are horrified by the antisemitic terror attack on innocent families commemorating Hanukkah. We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims of this atrocity, the entire Jewish community throughout Australia, and the people of Sydney. We also commend those from all backgrounds who responded with remarkable bravery and valor, and who will continue to support recovery efforts in the weeks to come.
The group affirmed their commitment to “not allow evil to divide us”:
We urge all Victorians – regardless of who you are or what faith you hold – to unite. Now is the time for us to collaborate, focus on our shared values, and reject division. It is incumbent upon all of us to foster a Victoria where we can all feel secure and proud.
ShareUpdated at 04.10 GMT
Published: 2025-12-17 05:23:00
source: www.theguardian.com
