Key events
NSW parliament passes new gun and protest laws
The New South Wales Minns Labor government has passed controversial changes to gun laws and new powers for police to ban street protests for up to three months, after a marathon debate in the upper house.
The laws, which were drafted in response to the 14 December massacre at Sydney’s Bondi beach in which two gunmen fired on a Hanukah event, killing 15 people, were voted through at 2.51am on Wednesday.
The omnibus bill passed with 18 votes in favour and eight against. The Liberals joined the Labor government members in voting for the bill, while the Nationals and Shooters voted against. The Greens members abstained.
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Welcome
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Penry Buckley with the main action.
After a marathon debate, the upper house of the New South Wales parliament voted at 2.51am to pass the controversial omnibus bill bringing in tougher laws to limit gun ownership and to restrict the right to protest after terror attacks. The reforms, drafted in response to the Bondi terror attacks, passed by 18 votes to eight. More coming up.
A national database of individuals charged with offences under hate crimes legislation across all Australian jurisdictions has been launched today after the Bondi shooting.
