Rebekha Sharkie (Mayo, Centre Alliance) Share this | Hansard source

Just this morning, this legislation, the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026, was made available for us to view. How does that give anyone in this place who respects their job as a lawmaker time to properly scrutinise this government's bill? We'll have just 90 minutes of debate, and then debate's going to be gagged, this bill's going to be sent to the Senate, where a deal has already been done with the Greens party, and then it's going to be passed. What contempt of the parliamentary process! When we rush legislation, we make mistakes and the Australian public suffers the consequences. The normal process for contentious legislation—everybody in here knows this—is that there is an exposure draft, we have a look at it, there are early discussions and then the government may present the bill. Then there is a formal inquiry that often travels around the nation, giving people who would be affected by the legislation the opportunity to make submissions, to be heard in that process, and perhaps even to present to the inquiry. I'm told that the rushed Senate inquiry into this whole bill did not give many firearms owners or even organisations involved in sports shooting the opportunity to be heard.

We have some of the strictest gun laws in the world. I've received hundreds of emails from locals angry that their lives will be impacted through buybacks or through the prohibition of accessories because two radical Islamic extremists full of hate wanted to murder Australian Jews. And I'm afraid that Bondi will happen again. Something like that will happen again. It's not the first time that we've had Islamic terrorism on our shores. Unless we properly address what has happened and properly address that we have Islamic extremists living in our suburbs—the government can't even say the words 'Islamic extremism', let alone deal with it, and that is the problem.

This is just one of many letters I've received:

I am particularly alarmed about the firearms provisions, which are reckless, poorly drafted and will unfairly punish law-abiding citizens.

As a retired police officer with nearly 30 years of combined State and Federal service, including nine years in Close Personal Protection … within the Australian Federal Police … I can state unequivocally that this incident does not justify further firearm law reform. Australia already has some of the strictest firearm laws in the world, and the vast majority of licensed firearm owners comply fully and pose no threat to public safety.

I am a competitive shooter and hunter and own a pump-action centrefire rifle for the quick and humane dispatchment of feral … pests as one of my rifles, along with a handgun for competitive target shooting.

Since retirement, shooting sports have been my primary social connection and a vital part of my identity after a lifetime of public service. Measures that restrict lawful participation without improving safety are unacceptable. As inconsequential as it may seem, utilising a handgun through competition connects me to who I feel I am, after spending my entire adult life in Law Enforcement protecting the community at both a State and Federal Level.

The proposed bans on importing shooting clothing and equipment will not enhance public safety but will devastate law-abiding competitors from local club members to Olympic athletes. These provisions must be removed.

The bill removes the right to review adverse intelligence findings for firearms licence applicants and allows AI-assisted decision-making, directly contradicting the Robodebt Royal Commission's recommendations. These provisions are unacceptable and must be reversed.

If a buy-back proceeds, compensation must reflect full market value, including accessories, ammunition and business losses. This must be enshrined in legislation to ensure fairness.

This tragedy exposes failures in oversight and inter-departmental accountability, not a lack of laws. Punishing compliant firearm owners for the actions of criminals is unjust, counterproductive, and erodes trust in government.

Public safety can be improved without penalising responsible citizens.

That, to me, is entirely fair. This whole process is rushed, contrived and contemptuous of this chamber.

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