It’s hard to disagree with the verdict of former Australian cabinet minister Josh Frydenberg on the Bondi Beach attack. ‘Guns may have stolen the life of 15 innocent civilians,’ he said, ‘but it was radical Islamist ideology that pulled the trigger’. Despite that furious denunciation of Australian government inertia on antisemitism since 7 October – and ex-prime minister John Howard labelling gun control a ‘distraction’ – Anthony Albanese is determined to focus on cracking down on firearms. But is he ignoring the Islamist elephant in the room?

Cracking down on guns is sensible, but it won’t defeat the Islamist and antisemitic hate pulling the trigger

The Australian leader has announced a massive buyback of weapons from gun owners, likely to cost taxpayers over A$1 billion (£494 million). ‘The deadly terrorist attack at Bondi Beach is a national tragedy which can never be allowed to happen again,’ Albanese said on Friday. ‘This national buyback scheme will help get guns off our streets, and help keep all Australians safe.’

This gun buyback isn’t a bad idea. There are too many weapons in our country; there is no need for there to be one gun for every seven Australians. Addressing specifically the arsenal of the Bondi terrorists, licensed to the father of the pair, Sajid........

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