National cabinet agrees unanimously to strengthen Australia's strict gun laws in wake of Bondi terror attack

Only Australian citizens would be able to hold a firearm licence under stronger gun laws being considered by states and territories in the wake of the Bondi terror attack.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an urgent meeting of national cabinet on Monday afternoon, when premiers and first ministers unanimously agreed to bolster rules around gun ownership.

Accelerating the launch of a national firearms register, limiting the number of guns a single person can own and further restricting the types of weapons that are legal are among the options being explored. 

State and territory leaders have commissioned their police ministers and attorneys-general to consider the measures, as well as making Australian citizenship a "condition" of a firearm licence.

There was also agreement to look at allowing the use of additional criminal intelligence to "underpin" firearms licensing.

NSW Premier Chris Minns and West Australian Premier Roger Cook will lead and coordinate the work across the different jurisdictions.

The federal government will also start work on potential customs restrictions for gun imports, including 3D printing, novel technology and firearms equipment capable of holding large amounts of ammunition.

A statement released after the meeting said leaders agreed "strong and focused action" was needed on gun law reform, including renegotiating the national firearms agreement first established after the 1996 Port Arthur mass shooting, to "ensure it remains as robust as possible in today's changing security environment".

The national cabinet also pledged to "eradicate" antisemitism, hate, violence and terrorism, noting work underway, including establishing a national hate crimes and incidents database.

Fifteen people were killed — including a 10-year-old girl — when a father and son opened fire on members of Australia's Jewish community who were gathered at the beach to mark the first day of Hanukkah.

One of the two gunmen, Sajid Akram, was also killed, while his son Naveed Akram is being treated in hospital under police guard.

The father had been a licensed gun holder for a decade and possessed six registered firearms, which NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said were recovered from the scene.

Mr Albanese said the government was "prepared to take whatever action is necessary" ahead of taking his proposal for tougher gun laws to national cabinet.

Australia has some of the strictest gun laws in the world. They were introduced by the Howard government in the wake of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when 35 people were killed by lone gunman Martin Bryant.

The sweeping reform saw national, state and territory governments sign up to the National Firearms Agreement, which restricted automatic, semi-automatic and pump action rifles, as well as shotguns.

It also ushered in stricter requirements for the registration and storage of firearms.

Mr Albanese acknowledged those laws made an "enormous difference in Australia" and that it was a "proud moment of reform".

"If we need to toughen these up, if there's anything that we can do, I'm certainly up for it," he said.

"And I hope to get national cabinet on board for that this afternoon as well."

NSW Premier Chris Minns has also flagged potential changes to gun laws and said the state parliament could be recalled to pass reform if necessary.

"We need to make sure the firearms legislation in New South Wales is fit for purpose. That does mean restricting firearms for the general public, for the people of New South Wales," he said.

"But not everybody needs these weapons of mass destruction. You don't need them on New South Wales streets. So we'll be looking at change."

But he said it would take time to draft legislation so it could be done "in a way that will make a difference".

Commissioner Lanyon said there had been "no incidents" in regard to the elder gunmen's firearm licence and that "it was regulated".

"There was little knowledge of either of these men by the authorities," he said.

The ABC understands ASIO examined the younger shooter six years ago over his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State (IS) terrorism cell.

Funeral visas to be fast-tracked

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke has announced that the federal government has set up a team to fast-track visa applications for family members of the victims seeking to travel to Australia for funerals.

He said a "specific section of the department" had been set up to deal with visa applications "at a pace that would not normally be there".

"Given the often speedy nature of funerals, in terms of the timeline in the Jewish tradition, to make sure that we maximise the chance for family members to be able to be reunited here at the worst of times," Mr Burke said.

Mr Albanese said the government would also extend funding to provide security to the Jewish community and "quickly work through" a process that would ensure insurance companies could pay out local businesses for eligible losses.

The federal opposition has offered to support parliament being recalled over the summer "if laws need to be passed" in response to the Bondi attack.

"Whatever needs to happen, the opposition will back in the government to make sure it doesn't happen again," Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam said on Monday.

"It is unacceptable that it has come to this, and leadership needs to be shown now. We can't wait another day."