TERRORISM AND OTHER LEGISLATION AMENDMENT BILL 2025 DEBATE

EXTRACT OF HANSARD - 22 DECEMBER 2025

Dr JOE McGIRR (Wagga Wagga) (14:22): I contribute to debate on the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. Like all Australians, I am still in shock at the atrocity committed by two cowardly men with guns at Bondi just eight days ago. On behalf of my electorate, I acknowledge the pain and suffering of the victims, their families and the Jewish community. I pay my respects to them, and send my condolences and those of my electorate. Last week a vigil was held in Wagga Wagga in 40 degree heat. Some 250 people turned out to show solidarity with the Jewish community and stand against hatred and violence.

The scale of that atrocity means that we do need to take action on our laws, and I accept that part of that will need to be sensible and effective reform of gun laws as well as hate speech laws and protest laws. But it would be a mistake to assume that those reforms will prevent this happening again, particularly the proposed gun law reform. We do need to address antisemitism. I support a royal commission. It is clear from what members have said consistently in this debate today that we need to look into the causes of antisemitism and take much more action on that. We also need to understand the circumstances in which the killers were able to get the guns that they had.

The member for Orange and the member for Bathurst outlined their concerns at considerable length and with accuracy. Those are key issues where, if we act, we may prevent another circumstance like the one we have seen. But in relation to the gun laws in particular, it is critical that we do not rush into changes without appropriate research and consultation. Today the Minister said that we need swift, decisive action. I agree, but we do not need unnecessarily rushed and hasty action. Some aspects proposed in the bill could be reasonable. Restricting gun licences to citizens would be one sensible measure, as well as shortened renewal periods. We do need to find a solution to the types of weapons that people can access, but this needs discussion and a better understanding of the issue to make it work.

Many constituents have approached me with concerns about the rushed nature of this bill. I am particularly concerned about the removal of the capacity to appeal to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. That concerns me on the simple principle that a government bureaucracy should not be holding itself to account. Appeal mechanisms need to work outside of that. Leaving that aside, this bill needs careful consideration. Gun safety is critical, but it is vital that thousands of law-abiding gun owners are not victimised or blamed for the actions of two murderous cowards. I strongly support gun control. I am not a shooter and I do not have a gun. We are rightly proud of our strict gun laws in this country, but those laws work to a significant degree because they are supported by gun owners.

In my experience, those who own guns legally are conscious of their responsibilities and take them very seriously. In fact, the success of our gun laws is due to the engagement and involvement of gun owners in complying with them. They are significant responsibilities, but those people acknowledge that gun ownership is not a right but a privilege. They work hard to maintain the responsibilities that they have. It is that goodwill that makes the laws work. I believe that the members of that community need to be thoroughly consulted so they can work with the changes and not against them.

It would not take much time to consult. It could be done, frankly, in time for the first sitting weeks of 2026 in February. Instead of rushing into a decision today, we should, as the member for Orange has moved, refer this bill to a committee so that we do this once, we do it right, and we bring the community along to give the reforms social licence and hopefully save lives with a package of laws that would be acceptable and effective. Unfortunately, the Government has made the gun law changes part of the same bill as the hate speech and protest law changes that I would broadly support. However, the lack of consultation on the gun laws and the overall rushed nature of the bill mean that I cannot support the bill today.

It is disappointing that the Government has introduced what should be three separate pieces of legislation as one bill. If it was genuine about this and not trying to wedge different parts of the community, it would not have done that. Be that as it may, there has not been sufficient consultation with gun owners in the crafting of this legislation. The legislation is rushed and does not address key issues about the circumstances in which the killers were able to obtain those guns. It does not address the issues of antisemitism. Taken together, those facts mean that this bill is, frankly, in the realm of the performative, and that concerns me deeply. I do not believe that the victims, their communities and their families deserve that. They deserve to have us work hard on this in a considered nature. I will not support the bill. I would be happy to support a similar bill that has had proper consultation and examination. Let me make that clear. I agree that we need action, but we owe it to those who lost their lives, their families and the community to make sure that our actions are as effective as possible. That means proper consultation.