Australian parliament to meet early to pass hate speech laws after Bondi terror attack |
SYDNEY, Australia — Australia’s parliament will reopen two weeks early to crack down on hate crimes and gun ownership following the recent terror attack targeting a Jewish event at Bondi Beach, its government said on Monday.
Australia has flagged a suite of reforms to hate crime and gun laws since the December 14 attack that killed 15 people — the country’s deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would recall both houses of parliament for a sitting from January 19-20 to pass the new legislation and offer condolences to the victims.
Members of parliament had been scheduled to return from their summer break on February 3.
“The terrorists at Bondi Beach had hatred in their minds but guns in their hands — this law will deal with both,” Albanese told a news conference.
The legislation would create new offenses for “hate preachers,” stiffen hate crime penalties,........