Sydney, December 24 (NationPress) - The legislative assembly of Australia's New South Wales (NSW) has enacted stringent new regulations concerning firearms and public protests following the tragic mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, as reported by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Wednesday.

The newly passed bill, which couples firearm reforms with a prohibition on protests lasting up to three months, achieved a vote tally of 18 in favor and 8 against just before 3 a.m. local time on Wednesday. A notable change included in the amendment is the tightening of gun laws for individuals with potential links to terrorism.

According to ABC, the legislation is set to return to the lower house for final approval.

The mass shooting, which occurred during a celebration for the first day of the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, resulted in the deaths of 15 individuals on December 14, according to the Xinhua news agency.

On Tuesday, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese remarked that this Christmas season would be marked by 'grief and sadness' in the aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror incident.

In a press briefing in Canberra, Albanese described the shooting that targeted a Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach as an antisemitic assault on the Jewish community and a direct affront to 'Australian values and society.'

He conveyed that the holiday season would feel different for many Australians due to the incident, but he also recognized the bravery, kindness, and compassion exhibited by the citizens.

'What is typically a time of joy and family will, this year, be overshadowed by sorrow, yet in the weeks following the attack, we have witnessed the best of the Australian character and spirit,' he stated.

Accompanying Albanese in Canberra was Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke, who disclosed that the federal government has commenced drafting legislation for enhanced gun control measures, expected to be introduced to parliament in 2026.

Burke indicated that the proposed federal firearms reform package would encompass a nationwide firearms buyback initiative, as announced by Albanese on Friday, alongside new regulations regarding the importation of firearm-related products and new criminal offenses concerning 3D-printed firearms.

Furthermore, Burke emphasized that the government is expediting efforts to create a national firearms register and a hate crimes database to provide the 'most reliable information' to the public and the authorities tasked with issuing gun licenses.