On December 19, the Australian Government announced that it would launch a nationwide gun buyback program, and organize a national thinking day after a mass shooting at Bondi Beach on December 14.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Australia would mark a full week since the attack by calling on people to light candles at 6:47 a.m. on December 21, the same time as the incident.
Speaking to the press, Mr. Albanese emphasized that this reflection day is to express solidarity with the jewish community and for all Australian people to share the pain of loss. He said this was a moment for society to stop, reflect and affirm that hate and violence will not shape Australian identity.
In addition, the Australian Prime Minister said the government also plans to hold a national mourning day at some point in the new year. This activity aims to create conditions for families to have more time to take care of their loved ones' funeral and support those who are still recovering from the tragedy.
Along with the commemorative activities, Mr. Albanese announced a plan to buy guns nationwide to recover redundant, newly banned or illegally circulating weapons. He said this would be the largest gun buyback since 1996, when Australia tightened gun laws after a shooting in Port Arthur killed 35 people.
According to Albanese, Australia's gun ownership laws have been extensively revised after the Port Arthur tragedy, but what happened at Bondi shows the need to continue to take more guns off the streets to ensure the safety of the community.
The attack at Bondi Beach is considered the most serious mass shooting in Australia since the Port Arthur incident. The two suspects Sajid Akram and his son Naveed were accused of killing 15 people in a suspected attack with a Chinese cardboard engine. The incident has sparked deep concern in Australian society and prompted the government to take more drastic action on gun control.
