Protest and some gun laws will take effect in NSW today: Chris Minns

Minns says that controversial protest laws which restrict public assemblies for up to three months after a terrorist attack, and limits on the number of firearms, will come into effect from today:

So the number of firearms that provision will be in place as of this afternoon, as will the extinguishment of the appeals through the administrative decisions tribunal. So the police commissioner will have the final word. They’ll be in place immediately, as will the protest law reforms. They’ll be in place almost immediately now the legislation’s passed. There are other elements of the gun bill that will take a bit of time, but we have to set up and fund the buyback registry and I’m aiming to do it as soon as possible. But it’s going to take a bit of time.

Share

Updated at 20.35 EST

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Penry Buckley

That’s all from me today. I will leave you in the expert hands of Cait Kelly. For those who celebrate it, Happy Christmas!

Share

What do NSW gun control reforms mean for those with more than four firearms?

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, announced earlier that some gun control reforms will come into effect from this afternoon, once they have the governor’s assent.

This includes a limit on firearms of four for recreational licence holders, and 10 for those using them for professional reasons, such as farming, pest control, and sport and target shooting.

That will make it illegal to buy more than that number from today. For those who already have more than that number, there will be a grace period while the state government works with the federal government to set up and fund the buyback registry.

Minns said earlier he was aiming to set up the scheme “as soon as possible” but said: “It’s going to take a bit of time.”

Share

Updated at 20.34 EST

NSW opposition leader calls for further action on antisemitism

The NSW opposition leader, Kellie Sloane, has put out a statement after the passage of the Minns government’s terrorism and other legislation amendments bill, which had the support of the Liberal party.

The NSW opposition leader, Kellie Sloane. Photograph: Izhar Khan/Getty Images

During debate on the bill, which was opposed by the Nationals, creating a split within the Coalition, the Liberals proposed several amendments, all of which were rejected by the government.

Sloane said her party had supported the bill “because community safety must always come first, and the parliament has a responsibility to act in the wake of such a serious and confronting terrorist attack”.

However, we should be clear-eyed about the core issue at stake. Antisemitism was the reason for this attack, and the people of NSW rightly expect strong and decisive action to confront and eliminate it.

This bill was rushed through the parliament with limited consultation and insufficient engagement with stakeholders. That is not best-practice law-making, particularly in an area as sensitive and consequential as counter-terrorism and social cohesion.

Sloane said the opposition would have “more to say over the coming weeks and months” about further reforms to respond to hate speech and antisemitism.

Share

Updated at 20.16 EST

NSW police minister says firearms registry ‘a shambles’ between 2020 and 2023

The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, was asked at the premier’s press conference if police had been able to determine why an application by alleged gunman Sajid Akram for a category A/B firearms licence was approved in 2023, three years after it was applied for in 2020.

She said:

I have been advised that at that period from 2020 to 2023, there was a very large backlog. The [registry] was not working at its capacity. In fact, it was a shambles. It appears that it was quite normal for a licence to be issued between two to three years [later]. That’s unacceptable. However, their systems were upgraded significantly in 2023 and since then that hasn’t been my experience as minister that we’ve had those delays.

The NSW police minister, Yasmin Catley, and the premier, Chris Minns. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShare

Updated at 20.06 EST

Premier says ‘incredible Australians’ responded to Bondi attack

Minns says his government will look closely at nominations for the special honours list announced by the prime minister this morning.

There’s been some exceptional examples of bravery from regular members of the public and police officers and surf lifesavers. You know, in all of this terror and all of this sadness and evil, there’s been some incredible Australians that are still prepared to put their lives on the line and protect a complete stranger.

In response to a final question on the protest laws, he says the rhetoric of the opponents to the legislative changes, and protest laws in particular, is “overblown”. “We’ve had very few terrorism designations over the last few years,” he says.

He ends with a Christmas message to reporters:

Can I just say merry Christmas to all of you? I know it’s been a very difficult week. I hope you can spend time with your family and your friends. Thank you for reporting these very difficult circumstances. And I know it’s taken a toll on you as much as it has on members of the public, and we genuinely appreciate it. And thank you for the collaborative way we’ve been able to engage over the last 10 days. It’s been really challenging but the professionalism shown by the gallery has been extraordinary.

Share

Updated at 19.54 EST

Minns warns of heightened police presence on streets over holiday period

The premier says people in Sydney can expect to see more armed police officers on the streets over the Christmas and new year period.

That might be not what you’d commonly see with police officers in the street, but they’ll respond to the challenges that they have and they’ll respond to the assessment that they make. And we’re not going to make any apologies for that. I’ve told the NSW police and also the police minister, we will give them whatever resources they need in this heightened period. And I think the people of this state would expect us to do that.

Share

Updated at 19.51 EST

Minns has been asked about his decision to wrap together different legislation in response to the Bondi beach attack into a single bill, which saw it opposed by the Nationals on gun control, and condemned by the Greens for the changes to protest laws.

He says:

All of you have commented about how late we’re sitting, we were up against a deadline of Christmas even in the context of one bill. It was difficult to get it through the parliament if it had been cut up into its component parts, we would have been here way past Christmas, in my view, and maybe people who oppose elements of those changes would have loved that because it would have been or would have meant that the passage of the bills would have been stalled. And I’m glad we’re not waiting.

Share

Updated at 19.52 EST

Premier says protest laws would not apply to all public assemblies

The premier, who has previously said he is confident that protest laws would not be vulnerable to constitutional challenge, reiterates the idea that a declaration would not apply to all public assemblies.

It’s just … marches through the city through a form 1, which I understand hasn’t traditionally been part of that protest. In any event, if it were the case that the police commissioner made that designation, [people] will obviously have to abide by the laws of the land. Now we’ve got a few steps to go through before then. So I want to make it clear that that decisions for the police commissioner.

But we want to make sure we’re in a position to keep the people of NSW safe. And I don’t resile from the fact at all that in these circumstances of heightened tensions, words can lead to actions. And I think the vast majority of Australians that live in NSW support us in relation to these changes. I also note that there’s similar legislation being drafted in Victoria.

Share

Updated at 19.53 EST

Minns supports protest restriction today but says ‘not my decision’

Asked if a “public assembly restriction declaration” or “Pard” will be made today to restrict protests following the Bondi Beach attack, Minns says:

It’s not my decision. It’s the police commissioner’s decision. But I believe in the circumstances that that should happen. But I’m going to leave it up to him to make that call today.

NSW Premier Chris Minns is joined by Police Minister Yasmin Catley and Attorney General Michael Daley in Sydney, December 23. The Legislative Assembly passed the hate speech and protest laws late last night and are now going through the Legislative Council. Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAPShare

Updated at 19.52 EST

Protest and some gun laws will take effect in NSW today: Chris Minns

Minns says that controversial protest laws which restrict public assemblies for up to three months after a terrorist attack, and limits on the number of firearms, will come into effect from today:

So the number of firearms that provision will be in place as of this afternoon, as will the extinguishment of the appeals through the administrative decisions tribunal. So the police commissioner will have the final word. They’ll be in place immediately, as will the protest law reforms. They’ll be in place almost immediately now the legislation’s passed. There are other elements of the gun bill that will take a bit of time, but we have to set up and fund the buyback registry and I’m aiming to do it as soon as possible. But it’s going to take a bit of time.

Share

Updated at 20.35 EST

Minns heralds ‘extraordinary measures’, acknowledges opposition

Minns begins by heralding the “extraordinary measures” contained in this week’s bill, which he says create the “toughest gun restrictions of any jurisdiction in the country”.

He also acknowledges opposition to the bill, including controversial protest laws:

I know that not all Australians that live in NSW support these changes but we have decided it’s the best way of ensuring we do everything possible to keep the people of NSW safe. I want to thank the leader of the opposition for her support in the passage of this legislation.

In the end, I think the Greens abstained. So the passage of this bill required cooperation from the Coalition and we got that. And I know that that happened in a short space of time … but we appreciate the goodwill in which we were able to get much-needed reform in NSW through the parliament.

Share

Updated at 19.32 EST

The NSW premier, Chris Minns, is addressing media following the passing of an omnibus bill on gun reform, hate speech and protest laws.

Share

Rain forecast for most capital cities on Christmas Day

Forecast rain is dampening the risk of bushfires on Christmas Day for most capital cities but parts of the nation will be on heatwave alert.

Canberra (27C) and Adelaide (25C) were the only capitals expecting a fine and relatively mild Christmas Day, while Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart could expect showers, according to the Bureau of Meteorology. Darwin could get a 50mm tropical downpour.

Sydney can expect a shower or two and a top of 23C, Melbourne’s forecast is for a chilly and windy 17C day and Brisbane is predicted to be a balmy 34C.

Perth will have a scorcher, with 41C forecast before a milder 27C on Boxing Day.

Read the full report:

Share

Updated at 19.19 EST