My Thoughts on the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 (NSW)

I want to preface this article by stating that I am a law-abiding firearm owner (LAFO) and a "fit and proper person" in the eyes of the law. Due to the restricted and prohibited firearms licences I hold, I am one of the most heavily vetted private citizens in the country.

I have been fairly vocal about my opposition to this bill and I will be campaigning against these changes with every legal resource I have available.

What I am NOT advocating for is any kind of unlawful response, illegal action, or violent protest against this bill. When I say we need to fight, I strictly mean we are to fight appropriately within the law as the fit and proper people we are.

I, like many of you, will likely have to surrender many firearms due to recategorisation and unworkable limits. And if that day comes, I will comply. I will fight it every step of the way, but ultimately, I will comply, because, like you, I am a law-abiding firearm owner.

With that said, here’s what I really want to say.

This Bill is a Knee-Jerk Response to Tragedy 

The tragedy at Bondi Beach in December 2025 broke the nation's heart. The loss of 15 innocent lives at a Hanukkah celebration was a stark reminder of the dangers of radicalised ideology. However, the NSW Government's response—the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025—is the epitome of "doing something" rather than "doing the right thing." 

By rushing through strict gun caps and seizure powers, the government has deflected attention from the real issue: the failure of intelligence and government agencies working together to prevent Islamic extremism.

One of the shooters had a NSW firearms licence and yet his son, who lived in the same house, was on an ASIO terrorist watch list. How on earth is it possible that someone on a terrorist watch list can live in the same house as a firearm licence holder without any action being taken to revoke the licence and confiscate the firearms in that premises? This beggars belief and is the very core of the real issue.

Instead of addressing that very real issue, the government's response has been: "We're getting dangerous guns off our streets with a national buyback." How confiscating guns from law-abiding firearm owners by means of a forced “buyback” does anything to prevent another terrorist attack is beyond me. Let alone the cost burden on taxpayers who will ultimately fund this confiscation buyback.

For those who don’t know, a gun is an inanimate object unable to have a will of its own, let alone perform that will. No, it is the will of evil, radicalised people who chose to use this inanimate object to perform an act of terror.

This bill and associated gun reforms do nothing to address terrorism or prevent another Bondi-style Islamic terrorist attack in our country. Here are a few highlights to point out:

• You can’t wave an Islamic State flag. Wow, that will help. 
• We are now limited to 4 or 10 firearms depending on the genuine reason. Yep, that will really help too, since the terrorists only used one gun at a time. If they couldn’t get legal firearms, they simply could have bought them on the black market, which is alive and well in Australia.
• The removal of NCAT. This means law-abiding firearms owners have no means of an independent appeal if the NSW Firearms Registry gives a decision a person disagrees with. Independent appeal is the cornerstone of a free and democratic society.
• All firearms owners now must be a member of a club. I don’t think that needs any commentary on how ludicrous it is to think that will help prevent another attack.
• Removal of the right to hold a peaceful protest in the wake of a terrorist attack. This is simply government overreach and control of the people.

Punishing the Wrong People

This new legislation introduces some of the strictest gun controls since 1996, including a cap of four or ten firearms for most license holders. 

As a professional shooter, this is not a hobby restriction; it is a restraint of trade. Professional shooters require a variety of calibres and actions for different tasks, locations, size of pest animal, and type of operation. I personally use and rely on 15–20 firearms in my line of work on a regular basis.

For recreational hunters and target shooters, these limits dramatically restrict the number of different game and pest animals a hunter can effectively target, or the number of competitions a target shooter can compete in. You’re hardly going to use a large centrefire rifle to hunt rabbits. Nor would you use a modern sporting rifle in a ‘black powder’ competition. Most hunters and competitors simply cannot hunt and compete with only 10 firearms.

I understand there is a provision for the police commissioner to allow a person with specific firearm licence genuine reasons to apply for additional firearms beyond the limit of 10. The biggest issue with this is the commissioner can simply say ‘no’ despite a clear and genuine need being displayed.

Limiting firearm ownership does nothing to stop a terrorist who, as history shows, will use whatever means available, legal or illegal, to cause harm. The Bondi attackers did not act because Australia’s gun laws were too loose; they acted because they were radicalised.

Community Consultation Did Not Happen

Effective legislation requires consultation with those it affects. The government admits this bill was expedited and the only consultation they did was with anti-gun bodies.

There was no meaningful consultation with professional shooters, farmers, and animal welfare operators who absolutely require numerous firearms to perform our work. There was also no meaningful consultation with recreational hunters or target shooters who also require numerous firearms to put food on the table or compete in their sport.

As law-abiding firearm owners, we are some of the most heavily vetted private citizens in the country. And yet, we were shut out of the room while decisions were made that jeopardise our livelihoods, the ability to put food on our tables, and the destruction of a sport we hold dear.

Ignoring the Root Cause

The most frustrating aspect of this bill is its title. It claims to address "Terrorism", yet the bulk of the actual changes target the licensed firearms community. The bill strengthens police powers against hate symbols, which is a positive step, but it pairs this with a crackdown on legal firearm ownership, which is an obvious deflection. 

Disarming a law-abiding firearm owner does not stop the spread of ISIS ideology in a Sydney suburb. The government has chosen to target law-abiding citizens instead of radicalised extremists.

We Need Real Solutions, Not Scapegoats

This whole bill is simply a deflection by a failed government who has thrown law-abiding firearm owners under the bus again under the illusion of public safety.

We all want a safer Australia. We all mourn the victims of Bondi. But passing laws that destroy the livelihoods of trusted professionals and impair the ability of sporting and recreational shooters to enjoy a sport they love, while not addressing the core issue of how this event happened, is a clear and utter failure of leadership. 

We need a government brave enough to tackle the ideology of terrorism head-on. A government who is able to call it what it is. A government who is willing to address the real issue of how this event was allowed to happen and what can actually be done to prevent it happening again. 

What we have right now is a government that can’t even utter the words “Islamic terrorism”, let alone do anything effective to combat it. My fear is this government will continue on this path of deflection and gas lighting of the firearms' community. All the while, these terrorists will grow more and more bold with nothing done to stop them.

Remember this at the next election and vote accordingly. The Labor Party and the Liberal Party are two cheeks of the same arse, both of which joined together to pass this awful legislation. The only opposition came from the Nationals and Shooters Fishers Farmers. It also pleases me to see that One Nation has been very vocal in their opposition to these reforms.

What You Can Do

There are currently two petitions, which if you’re in NSW, I urge you to sign. Details are as follows:

• Legislative Assembly (lower house).
• Legislative Council (upper house).

By signing these two petitions you are joining over 100,000 others who love our country, love our way of life, and want to live in peace and safety. Yet, we also know that these gun laws are rushed, faulty, and will not prevent another terrorist attack.

We are all in this fight together. And when our voices are united we are loud and strong. 

Remember: we are law-abiding firearm owners who are "fit and proper people" trusted to own and operate firearms. We will fight this legislation within our legal means by using our voices, our vote, and any other legal means possible.