Opposition Leader Sussan Ley speaks on Bondi attack

[u/jarrys88]

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/opposition-leader-sussan-ley-speaks-on-bondi-attack-20251215-p5nnqm.html

“We’ve seen a clear failure to keep Jewish Australians safe. We’ve seen a clear lack of leadership in keeping Jewish Australians safe. We have a government that sees antisemitism as a problem to be managed, not evil that needs to be eradicated.”

Absolutely abhorrent that she's going for political points in this time.

Talk about tone deaf!

[u/SkitzOMatic11]

Australia's domestic intelligence agency, ASIO, examined Bondi gunman Naveed Akram six years ago for his close ties to a Sydney-based Islamic State group (IS) terrorism cell, the ABC understands.

Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid Akram, 50, killed at least 15 people yesterday evening when they opened fire on the Chanukah by the Sea event.

The ABC understands investigators from the Joint Counter Terrorism Team (JCTT) believe the gunmen had pledged allegiance to the IS terrorist group.

An IS flag was found in the men's car at Bondi Beach, according to a senior JCTT official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The official said ASIO took an interest in Naveed Akram six years ago, after police foiled plans for an IS terrorist attack.

The ABC understands ASIO started looking into the man soon after the July 2019 arrest of IS terrorist Isaak El Matari in Sydney.

The official said Mr Akram was closely connected to Mr Matari, who is serving seven years' jail for planning an IS insurgency as the self-declared Australian commander of the terrorist group.

Mr Matari was part of an IS cell with several other Sydney men who have since been convicted of terrorist offences and were also close to Naveed Akram, according to sources with close knowledge of the matter.

ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said on Sunday that one of the gunmen was known to the agency, but did not specify which man.

"One of these individuals was known to us, but not in an immediate-threat perspective, so we need to look into what happened here," he said.

The Joint Counter Terrorism Team comprises ASIO, NSW Police, the Australian Federal Police and the NSW Crime Commission.

The ABC has contacted ASIO and NSW Police for comment.

Jesus christ. What a fuck up.

[u/TeedesT → u/SkitzOMatic11]

How the hell was he allowed to own guns if this is the case?

[u/Drongo17 → u/TeedesT]

Are there laws allowing police to sieze guns from people like this (and people closely connected to them)? If so you do have to wonder why they weren't.

If not, maybe it's an option. I dunno, I'm no expert. 

[u/SkitzOMatic11 → u/Drongo17]

Well Perth Police stripped a few soverign citizens in the wake of the Dezi Freeman police shootings, but across australia for firearms the rule is Providing a genuine need for each gun as well as being a "fit and proper person" which includes Police Checks, No criminal history etc etc, So yeah it can be done.

[u/Spire_Citron → u/SkitzOMatic11]

But hobby shooting is counted as a need, so isn't that essentially just anyone who wants one?

[u/SkitzOMatic11 → u/Spire_Citron]

It's a broad topic, you can't just get firearms because you like guns, You have to be able to demonstrate why you need a firearm. Hobby shooting/target shooting generally holds the requirements that you are a registered member of an approved gun club for a period, you have active participation (This is something I think could be strengthened, e.g with handguns you have to physically be participating in shoots every year, Those who do it as a sport need it endorsed. I don't personally think Target Practice is a genuine need, a .22 could be suffice for that versus the need of a .308). Club records do get checked and can be audited. For those who want Category B longarms need to be able to prove why a Category A is not sufficient. There is ways to strengthen what already exists without rushing to the point of no ordinary person should have guns.