SYDNEY — Australia’s parliament voted in favor of tougher hate crime and gun laws Tuesday, five weeks after gunmen targeting Jewish people on Bondi Beach killed 15 people.

Lawmakers in both the House of Representatives and the Senate backed the legislation in response to the December 14 shooting at the famous Sydney beach.

Sajid Akram and his son Naveed targeted Jews attending the Hanukkah event in an ISIS-inspired attack on December 14, the nation’s worst mass shooting in 30 years and the worst antisemitic attack outside Israel in decades. Sajid was killed by police during the attack, while Naveed was shot but survived.

The attack has sparked national soul-searching about antisemitism, anger over the failure to shield Jewish Australians from harm, and promises to protect the country with stiffer legislation.

“The terrorists had hate in their hearts, but they also had high-powered rifles in their hands,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told parliament.

“We’re taking action on both — tackling antisemitism, tackling hate, and getting dangerous guns off our streets,” he added.

Legislative reforms on guns and hate speech were voted on separately.

The hate speech legislation toughens laws........

© The Times of Israel