NSW Premier Chris Minns musters troops as contentious gun ownership, anti-protest laws pass in marathon debate
Controversial anti-protest laws and tightened gun restrictions have cleared their final hurdles despite opposition, but civil liberties groups have vowed to challenge the former.
NSW Premier Chris Minns succeeded in pushing through legislation to cap gun ownership, limit magazine capacity and tighten regulation around gun licences following the Bondi terrorist attack that killed 15 people.
The marathon debate in the Legislative Council ended close to 3am (AEDT) on Christmas Eve.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Omnibus legislation spanning gun reform, protest restrictions and hate speech crackdowns passed 18 to eight votes after a two-day emergency session of the NSW Parliament.
The reforms were supported by the Liberals but not the Nationals, who oppose further firearm restrictions.
Police powers to prevent public gatherings after a terrorist event also passed but will face a legal challenge as opponents brand it draconian and an overreach.
Public assembly can be restricted for up to 90 days following a terrorist incident.
Palestine Action Group and Jews Against the Occupation are challenging the protest provisions in court.
“These laws will take away the rights of everyone in NSW to gather together as a community to express their views,” Josh Lees from the action group said.
Mr Minns said he was confident the laws would withstand the legal challenge.
But even members of Mr Minns’ back bench spoke out against the crackdown in parliament, with Anthony D’Adam and Stephen Lawrence calling it disproportionate.
Mr Lawrence said the ban could lead to violence if the pressure valve of peaceful protesting is removed, essentially creating a pressure cooker.
“This could go so wrong,” he said.
