NSW premier says tougher gun, protest laws bolster safety as reforms take effect after Bondi terror attack
In short:
Premier Chris Minns says the NSW government is "not done with reform" as sweeping new laws come into effect after being approved by NSW Parliament.
Some of the tougher legislation impacting guns and protests in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack will go into effect immediately, he says.
What's next?
Mr Minns says he does not expect the new laws to restrict next month's planned Invasion Day protests as groups push to change the January 26 date of Australia Day.
Premier Chris Minns says some of the tougher laws on guns and protests in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack will go into effect immediately after the NSW Parliament passed a package of changes in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Speaking on Christmas Eve, Mr Minns says the "urgent" measures were needed, with Sydney and NSW "changed forever" after the mass shootings on December 14 that left 15 innocent people dead as they attended a Hanukkah celebration at Archer Park.
He added that the NSW government was "not done with reform and we're not going to be done until we've done everything possible to keep the people of this state safe".
"These are important changes, important legislation," he said.
"It's unusual that we're back here on Christmas Eve, the day before nearly everybody breaks for a bit of time with family and friends.
"But we couldn't wait. This was urgent."
Sydney is still reeling from the December 14 attacks at Bondi Beach. (ABC News: Che Chorley)
Under the new gun legislation, recreational licence holders will be able to possess a maximum of four firearms, and owners will need to have their licence reviewed every two years.
Mr Minns said the change was necessary to ensure "peace, safety and security" for the people of NSW.
"The number of firearms in that provision will be in place as of this afternoon … they'll be in place immediately,"he said.
"There are other elements of the gun bill that will take a bit of time, but we have to set up and fund the buyback registry, and I'm aiming to do it as soon as possible. But it's going to take a bit of time."
The government has been criticised for bringing in tighter controls over protests, giving police the power to enact a blanket refusal of all public assemblies for up to three months after a terrorist incident.
It would give the police commissioner the final say on whether protests could go ahead.
Anne Twomey says the new laws could severely impact on citizens' freedom of speech. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Anne Twomey, emerita professor of Constitutional Law at the University of Sydney, said it could deter people from protesting altogether.
"I think that they'll think they've been banned and it's illegal to do that [protest] and that will stop them from exercising their freedom of political communication," she told ABC News Radio.
"There are obviously other ways you can exercise your freedom of communication.
"But in the terms the Americans use, it will 'chill' your exercise of freedom of speech by limiting or really putting a burden on your ability to protest in a particular way."
Anthony Whealy says rushed legislation can sometimes have unintended consequences. (ABC News: Liam Patrick)
Anthony Whealy, chair of the Centre for Public Integrity and former NSW Court of Appeals judge, agreed, saying it could create more division in society.
"If you're going to inhibit the lawful right of people to express deeply felt points of view, under the guise of keeping calm, you going to create a more divisive situation,"he said.
But Mr Minns said the measures were necessary to ensure the safety of NSW residents at a volatile time.
"We've had a devastating and traumatic, violent, murderous attack on members of our community, and the number one responsibility of the New South Wales government is peace and security for us in Sydney," he said.
"You can internationalise these issues and I understand that there are concerns about what's happening around the world, but if it manifests itself in violence here, we're going to take action.
"We need to have rules in place that apply to everybody with a view to keeping this city and this state safe."
Mr Minns added that the planned Invasion Day rallies next month — backing calls to abolish or change the January 26 date of Australia Day — would not be impacted by tougher measures regarding protests.
"Obviously, assemblies like that can take place … it's just that marches through the city through a form, one which I understand hasn't traditionally been part of that protest.
"In any event, if it were the case that the police commissioner made that designation, he will obviously have to abide by the laws of the land," he said.