SYDNEY, December 24, 2025 – New South Wales Parliament passed sweeping gun and protest reforms in the early hours of christmas eve, just weeks after the tragic Bondi Beach terror attack. The legislation, debated for hours, grants police expanded powers and tightens restrictions on both firearms and public demonstrations.
New Gun Laws and Protest Restrictions Approved in NSW
The controversial bill passed the Upper House 18 votes to eight, sparking debate over its impact on civil liberties and public safety.
- The legislation restricts individual gun ownership to a maximum of four firearms, with exceptions for farmers and sport shooters.
- Magazine capacity for certain weapons will be reduced to five to 10 rounds.
- Police will gain the authority to remove face coverings at public assemblies under broader circumstances.
- A key amendment was passed unanimously, tightening access to firearms permits for individuals with suspected terrorist links.
What are the key changes to gun laws in New South Wales? The new laws limit individual gun owners to four firearms, with allowances for primary producers (farmers) who can possess up to ten, and sports shooters, also capped at ten. Magazine capacity for Class A and B weapons will be reduced from unlimited to between five and ten rounds.Gun licenses will now require renewal every two years, a change from the previous five-year cycle.
The billS passage followed a marathon debate, with the Liberals siding with the government. The Nationals, Shooters Party, and other crossbench MPs voted against the measures. the Greens abstained, expressing support for stronger gun laws but voicing concerns that the restrictions on protests represented “an assault on democratic rights.”
Despite reservations about the protest provisions, The Greens successfully proposed an amendment to strengthen vetting processes for firearms permits, specifically targeting individuals with suspected terrorist connections. This amendment garnered unanimous support from both houses of parliament during the two-day debate.
The legislation now returns to the Lower House for a final vote, expected later today. The changes to protest laws will allow police to remove face coverings at public assemblies, a move critics argue could stifle legitimate dissent. At present, police can only remove a face covering if they believe an indictable offense is being committed.
The new laws aim to address public safety concerns following the Bondi Beach attack, but have ignited a debate about the balance between security and civil liberties in New South Wales.
