Bill also bans hateful symbols, limits authorisation of public assemblies
The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 – which tightens firearm laws, prohibits hateful symbols, restricts public assemblies after terrorist attacks, and increases tools for police to keep the community safe – has passed the New South Wales Parliament.
“I acknowledge that these are very significant changes that not everyone will agree with, but our state has changed following the horrific antisemitic attack on Bondi Beach and our laws must change too,” said Chris Minns, NSW premier, in a media release.
“These laws get the balance right by providing police with the tools they need to calm a combustible situation in our state and keep people safe, while restricting access to dangerous weapons on our streets to reduce the risk of this happening again,” Minns added.
According to the media release from the NSW Department of Communities and Justice, the passage of the legislation follows the Bondi attack that led to the deaths of 15 individuals.
The department shared that the bill seeks to:
“These reforms strengthen oversight, improve enforcement and reduce the risk when it comes to firearm ownership,” said Yasmin Catley, NSW minister for police, in the media release. “We’re giving police the powers they need to best ensure the community is safe.”
The state and federal governments will also comprehensively audit existing firearms licences and conduct a gun buyback scheme.
The legislation makes it an offence to publicly display, without a reasonable excuse, a prohibited terrorist organisation’s symbol. The offence carries a maximum penalty of two years’ imprisonment or a $22,000 fine, or a $110,000 fine for organisations.
“There is no place for conduct which espouses hate, threatens or intimidates others and we are giving police the tools they need to hold perpetrators to account,” said Michael Daley, NSW attorney general, in the media release. “We are ensuring those who publicly display terrorist symbols are met with the full force of the law.”
According to the department, reasonable excuses include an academic purpose or another purpose in the public interest.
The bill allows the police commissioner or deputy commissioner with the minister for police to restrict authorised assemblies in specific areas for 14 days after a terrorism declaration, as well as permits police to require a person suspected of committing an offence during a public assembly to remove their face covering.
Upon the making of a terrorism declaration, the legislation prevents the authorisation of public assemblies in designated areas and allows police to move people if their behaviour or presence obstructs traffic or spurs fear, harassment, or intimidation.
The department noted that a terrorism declaration, extendable by 14-day periods for up to three months, will not prevent quiet reflection, prayer, or peaceful gatherings unlikely to cause fear or safety concerns.
Lastly, the NSW attorney general, who has requested that the Legislative Assembly Committee on Law and Safety perform an inquiry into hateful statements, intends to recommend the introduction of laws in 2026 to address hate speech.
