Protest and some gun laws will take effect in NSW today: Chris Minns
Minns says that controversial protest laws which restrict public assemblies for up to three months after a terrorist attack, and limits on the number of firearms, will come into effect from today:
So the number of firearms that provision will be in place as of this afternoon, as will the extinguishment of the appeals through the administrative decisions tribunal. So the police commissioner will have the final word. They’ll be in place immediately, as will the protest law reforms. They’ll be in place almost immediately now the legislation’s passed. 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.
Key events
Emergency services are bracing for one of the year’s deadliest periods, with data revealing spikes in drownings, alcohol-related injuries and road crashes during the festive season, AAP has reported.
An average of three people drowned on each day from Christmas to New Year’s Day in 2024, making the upcoming period a high-risk time, particularly for those travelling to unfamiliar or remote locations.
Royal Life Saving has warned that at least 139 lives were lost due to drownings in the previous summer, nearly half of whom were adults aged 55 and older.
Some 30% were made up of people born overseas.
Chief executive Justin Scarr:
The festive season is a time for relaxing, social gatherings and celebrations, but we know this is the riskiest time to be around water.
Alcohol is often a factor in summer drownings, Scarr added.
Leeser says government’s response to antisemitism ‘too little, too late’
Leeser:
For two years, I have been presenting to the parliament a bill for a judicial inquiry into antisemitism, on campus antisemitism, which has gone rife and unaddressed far too often.
They took two and a half years from when the Senate committee said that they should list the [Iranian revolutionary guard corps], and two years from the time that we were calling for the expulsion of the [Iranian] ambassador, to take action. On every single occasion, without exception, this government and this prime minister has delivered measures that are too little, too late.
Instead of taking the measures that are needed to protect Australians proactively, he has always been late to the party and yet again with failing to call a royal commission.
Leeser:
Now if the prime minister’s not going to listen to the opposition in terms of their calls for a royal commission, if he’s not going to listen to the former chief justice of Australia, the former chief justice of New South Wales, over 170 of Australia’s top lawyers, his own backbenchers Mike Freelander and Ed Husic …
Maybe, just maybe, he will listen to the family of Katrina Dawson.
Julian Leeser says family of Lindt cafe siege victim wants Bondi royal commission
Leeser says the family of Katrina Dawson, who was killed by police crossfire during the 2014 Lindt cafe siege have called for a royal commission into the Bondi attack:
The Dawson family are a very private family, but the fact that they have taken an unprecedented step of entering the public discussion about having a royal commission speaks volumes.
What their evidence indicates is that when they had an inquiry post the Lindt cafe siege, that federal agencies were evasive in dealing with questions.
As a result of there not being a royal commission, and that the families felt dissatisfied with the fact that those federal agencies wouldn’t answer those questions properly, they believe that a royal commission is the right way to address those issues.
Julian Leeser repeats call for commonwealth royal commission into antisemitism
The shadow education minister, Julian Leeser, is addressing the media in Sydney. He said:
As Australians sit down to their Christmas meal tomorrow, there’ll be one topic that will be discussed repeatedly – and that is, how can we have allowed antisemitism in this country to get to such a point over the last two or more years that 15 people were murdered in cold blood on Bondi beach?
And how can we have a prime minister of this country who is so intransigent about dealing with antisemitism that he continues to refuse to call a royal commission into antisemitism?
Sydney to Hobart competitors briefed ahead of Boxing Day race start
The Sydney to Hobart’s race briefing began with a minute’s silence for the two sailors who died in last year’s event, and ended with indications the fatal conditions will not repeat in 2025, AAP reports.
The race record is not expected to be broken this year as upwind conditions and a lighter finish spell a tighter contest for the six 100-foot super maxis chasing line honours.
Wednesday’s mandatory briefing from the Bureau of Meteorology predicted the 129 starters will face strong southerly winds of up to 25 knots after leaving the Sydney Heads on Boxing Day.
Cancellation of visa for British national for allegedly displaying Nazi symbols
The federal government has cancelled the visa of a British man charged with displaying prohibited Nazi symbols, after police seized swords bearing “swastika symbology” from his Queensland home last month.
We have the full story here:
Australian shares trading lower leading in to Christmas break
Australia’s share market is trading lower in a shortened session for Christmas Eve, with only raw materials and energy stocks making gains so far, AAP has reported.
The S&P/ASX200 fell 46.9 points by midday, down 0.53%, to 8,748.8, as the broader All Ordinaries lost 42.2 points, or 0.46%, to 9,054.
The pullback followed a strong session on Tuesday, and shrugged off a positive Wall Street session overnight after delayed US GDP data came in higher than expected, but didn’t affect the outlook for Federal Reserve interest rate cuts.
The exchange will close from 2.10pm AEDT on Wednesday until Monday 29 December, due to Christmas and Boxing Day.
The Australian dollar is buying 67.02 US cents, up from 66.66 US cents on Tuesday at 5pm, as expectations for US interest rate cuts remained largely intact despite higher-than-expected economic growth.
The federal Greens are calling for stronger gun control legislation across the country after the NSW parliament passed gun control laws.
The Greens’ justice spokesperson and senator for NSW, David Shoebridge, said:
The Greens welcome the passage of tougher firearm laws in NSW to stop hoarding of high-powered weapons in our suburbs and acknowledge the hard work of gun safety advocates for decades that has helped achieve this.
The Greens unanimous amendment strengthens the laws by making it clear no one investigated for terrorism, or living with or linked to proscribed people, should be granted a firearms permit. Guns are a privilege, never a right in our society.
What we now need is concerted national action so that all states and territories meet, or better, NSW gun safety changes and the Federal government to show leadership with a generous gun buyback and an urgent national firearms register.
Minns says ‘we cannot allow terror, hatred or fear to define who we are’ in Christmas message
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, has sent out his end-of-year message, wishing everyone Merry Christmas and a safe and happy new year.
He says:
This time of the year is about spending time with loved ones and enjoying everything that summer in our state has to offer. But I know that for countless families and communities, this season has been overshadowed by the horrific terror attack at Bondi Beach. It was an act of violence that shocked our city, rocked our state, and left a deep mark on all of us.
December the 14th should have been a normal summer day at one of the world’s most iconic places, but it became something none of us will ever forget. We grieve for the innocent lives lost, we hold their families tight and we continue to support those who were injured or traumatised. The pain of that day is real, and it will not be forgotten.
He also acknowledged the “extraordinary courage and bravery shown in the face of unimaginable violence, mentioning the police, members of the public, life savers, paramedics, and medical staff who all helped out.
Their actions saved lives and reminded us of the very best of our community.
At the same time, we cannot allow terror, hatred or fear to define who we are as a city or a state. Our state is strong and united. Our beaches, our parks, our streets and our neighbourhoods belong to everyone. We will continue to enjoy our summer, support one another, and look out for each other.
He finished by thanking essential workers who will be working over the Christmas period.
I wish you and your loved ones a safe and joyful Christmas and New Years.
Perth man charged with racial harassment and weapons offences after investigation into antisemitic online posts
Western Australia police charged a man overnight following an investigation into alleged online antisemitic comments made via a social media platform.
In a statement, WA police said:
On Tuesday, 23 December 2025, officers from Operation Dalewood arrested the man at his Yangebup home and executed a search warrant. Police will further allege: the man was a licensed firearms holder and possessed several registered firearms as well as a quantity of ammunition, all of which were seized. The man’s eligibility to hold a firearms licence will be subject to review.
A 39-year-old man from Yangebup has been charged with the following offences:
• 1 x Conduct intended to racially harass
• 1 x Carried or possessed a prohibited weapon
• 1 x Failed to store a firearm or related thing in compliant storage
The man’s bail was refused, and he will appear before the Fremantle magistrates court on Wednesday.
Penry Buckley
That’s all from me today. I will leave you in the expert hands of Cait Kelly. For those who celebrate it, Happy Christmas!
What do NSW gun control reforms mean for those with more than four firearms?
The NSW premier, Chris Minns, announced earlier that some gun control reforms will come into effect from this afternoon, once they have the governor’s assent.
This includes a limit on firearms of four for recreational licence holders, and 10 for those using them for professional reasons, such as farming, pest control, and sport and target shooting.
That will make it illegal to buy more than that number from today. For those who already have more than that number, there will be a grace period while the state government works with the federal government to set up and fund the buyback registry.
Minns said earlier he was aiming to set up the scheme “as soon as possible” but said: “It’s going to take a bit of time.”
NSW opposition leader calls for further action on antisemitism
The NSW opposition leader, Kellie Sloane, has put out a statement after the passage of the Minns government’s terrorism and other legislation amendments bill, which had the support of the Liberal party.
During debate on the bill, which was opposed by the Nationals, creating a split within the Coalition, the Liberals proposed several amendments, all of which were rejected by the government.
Sloane said her party had supported the bill “because community safety must always come first, and the parliament has a responsibility to act in the wake of such a serious and confronting terrorist attack”.
However, we should be clear-eyed about the core issue at stake. Antisemitism was the reason for this attack, and the people of NSW rightly expect strong and decisive action to confront and eliminate it.
This bill was rushed through the parliament with limited consultation and insufficient engagement with stakeholders. That is not best-practice law-making, particularly in an area as sensitive and consequential as counter-terrorism and social cohesion.
Sloane said the opposition would have “more to say over the coming weeks and months” about further reforms to respond to hate speech and antisemitism.
