Bondi Beach terror attack inquiry urges nationally consistent Australian gun laws
Synopsis
Australia's Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion has released an interim report with 14 recommendations following the Bondi Beach mass shooting that killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event. The commission is pushing for nationally consistent gun laws and a buyback scheme — but as of March, only four of eight states and territories had signed on.
Key Takeaways
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion released an interim report on 30 April 2025 with 14 recommendations , five withheld for national security reasons.
The commission called for nationally consistent firearms laws and a gun buyback scheme across all Australian states and territories.
The Bondi Beach attack on 14 December 2025 killed 15 people at a Hanukkah event; alleged gunman Naveed Akram faces murder and terrorism charges.
PM Albanese pledged to adopt and implement all recommendations relevant to the federal government.
As of end of March , only four of eight states and territories had signed up to the buyback scheme.
The royal commission's final report is due by the first anniversary of the attack, 14 December 2026 .
A landmark royal commission established in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack has called on all levels of government in Australia to prioritise a nationally consistent approach to firearms legislation, including a gun buyback scheme to remove surplus and illegal weapons from the community. The interim report, released on Thursday, 30 April 2025, marks a significant step in the country's reckoning with one of its deadliest mass shootings in recent history.
Key Recommendations of the Interim Report
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, headed by Commissioner Virginia Bell, handed down 14 recommendations in its interim report — five of which were withheld from public release on national security grounds. Among the publicly disclosed recommendations, the commission called on federal, state, and territory governments to urgently implement consistent firearms laws and establish a gun buyback scheme to reduce the number of surplus and illegally held weapons in circulation.
The report also recommended that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, state and territory leaders, and members of the national security committee participate in counter-terrorism exercises within nine months of each federal election. It further called for a formal review of counter-terrorism policing arrangements and directed the New South Wales police force to increase security at Jewish festivals and community events.
Government Response
Prime Minister Albanese told reporters that all recommendations relevant to the federal government would be adopted and implemented without delay.
Point of View
Yet the Bondi attack has exposed how much legislative divergence has crept back in over nearly three decades. The royal commission's push for nationally consistent laws is less a new idea than a reminder that consensus achieved once can erode quietly. Whether Albanese can convert federal resolve into uniform state compliance — especially with an election cycle looming — is the real test this interim report sets.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Bondi Beach terror attack royal commission recommend?
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion released 14 recommendations in its interim report on 30 April 2025, calling for nationally consistent firearms laws and a gun buyback scheme. It also recommended counter-terrorism exercises for political leaders and increased police security at Jewish community events.
What was the Bondi Beach terror attack?
On 14 December 2025, a mass shooting targeted a Hanukkah event at Bondi Beach in Sydney, killing 15 people. Alleged gunman Naveed Akram has been charged with murder and terrorism offences, with authorities claiming the attack was motivated by Islamic State ideology. His father, Sajid Akram, was shot dead at the scene.
Has Australia's gun buyback scheme been adopted by all states?
No. As of the end of March 2025, only four of Australia's eight states and territories had signed up to the national gun buyback scheme announced by PM Albanese following the Bondi Beach attack. The commission's interim report has renewed pressure on holdout jurisdictions to join.
What did PM Albanese say about the royal commission's recommendations?
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters that all recommendations relevant to the federal government would be adopted and implemented, stating: 'We're not sitting back and just reading this document. We're acting on it.'
When will the royal commission release its final report?
The Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion is expected to hand down its final report by the first anniversary of the Bondi Beach attack, which falls on 14 December 2026. The commission will not examine the intent or motivation behind the attack to avoid influencing ongoing criminal proceedings.
