‘Strong Gun Laws’ Stopped Deaths in Bondi Attack, Says Australian Prime Minister

Flower tributes are seen at Oxford Street Mall alongside Westfield Bondi Junction in Sydney, Australia, on April 14, 2024. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has touted the country’s “strong gun laws” for preventing hundreds of deaths in the recent Bondi stabbing attack.

On Saturday April 13 at the Westfield Bondi Junction Shopping Centre in the eastern suburbs of Sydney, a knife-wielding man, Joel Cauchi, killed six people and wounded 12 others.

Mr. Albanese indicated the attack would have been more severe if the man had been carrying a gun during an interview on ABC Sydney radio.

The prime minister agreed with a radio host claiming “thank god guns are not as available in our society as they are in other countries ... this could have been worse.”

Mr. Albanese said in response, “There’s no question that that is the case. This man wielded a deadly weapon in the form of a knife.

“But if it was an automatic gun, then we would have been speaking about hundreds of deaths.”

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Mr. Albanese then touted Australia’s strict gun laws, highlighting Australia is planning to create a national firearms register.

“It is important reminder of how important it is that we do have strong gun laws in this country,” Mr. Albanese said.

“Just this year as well, we are getting a national firearms register that will provide police and the authorities with further necessary information and complete the work that people, the Howard Government with the support of, importantly, Tim Fisher, who showed great courage as leader of the National Party, and Kim Beazley as leader of the Labor Party, but also the work of people like Walter Mikac, who lost his wife and children in the Port Arthur Massacre.”

Debate on Security at Shopping Centres

The prime minister would not be drawn into debate on increasing security at shopping centres, but noted there would be a review to consider the response in the future.

“I think now’s the time to express our condolences for those who have suffered. There will be a time for an appropriate, considered response to any security lessons that need to be learnt from an incident such as this,” Mr. Albanese said.

“An incident like this will provoke a necessary review that should be done in a considered way, based upon a proper assessment.”

The shopping centre was a central meeting spot for people all over the eastern suburbs, but also attracted visitors from other areas.

Mr. Cauchi, 40, had moved to Sydney from Queensland soon before the attack and had a history of mental health issues, according to police.

Among the victims, were first time mother Ashlee Good, 38; Dawn Singleton, 25, the daughter of multi-millionaire John Singleton; Jade Young, 47, a Sydney architect and mother of two; Pikria Darchia, 55, an artist; Faraz Tahir, 30, a security guard at Bondi Westfield and a refugee from Pakistan; and Yixuan Cheng, 27, a Chinese international student.

Flags at government buildings were flying at half mast to pay tribute to the victims following the attack, with New South Wales Premier Chris Minns saying, “Our community is in mourning.”

A baby who was stabbed in the rampage, named Harriet, has moved from critical condition to serious following the attack according to NSW health minister Ryan Park.

Online Debate About Gun Laws Sparked

The incident has sparked conversation internationally about gun laws in Australia compared to overseas.

Kos Samaras, a former Victorian Labor strategist turned director at RedBridge Group, received more than 80,000 views on a post to X on the subject.

“I see some conservative American commentators are suggesting we should have their gun law freedoms. ‘It may have prevented the stabbing deaths,’” he posted to X.

“More than 40,000 Americans were killed by guns in 2023. Over 95 percent of mass shootings were committed by men. Yep. No thanks.”

In response, New South Wales Libertarian Party MLC John Ruddick posted, “now do Switzerland.” In Switzerland, citizens and residents who meet the legal requirements are able to own firearms.

American libertarian political activist and entrepreneur Spike Cohen also weighed into the debate on X, touting the “natural right to keep and bear arms” in the United States.

Australia Creating National Firearms Register

In December, the Australian government confirmed it is planning to create a national firearms register.

This register will draw together information about firearm ownership from each state and territory in the country and link it in a central hub.

The news was unveiled following a meeting of National Cabinet between state and territory leaders and the prime minister.

On Dec. 6, Mr. Albanese said the reform will keep Australia’s first responders and community safer, hailing it as the “most significant improvement in Australia’s firearms management systems” in almost 30 years.

“While Australia has some of the strongest firearms laws in the world, the register will address significant gaps and inconsistencies with the way firearms are managed across all jurisdictions,” Mr. Albanese said in a statement at the time.

He added the register will be a federated model, with state data connecting to a central hub data, enabling near real-time information sharing across the country.

The federal government will assist the states to fund the reforms, aimed at providing “enduring benefits for decades to come.”