Royal commission into Bondi shooting says gun reform should be prioritised

Royal commission into Bondi shooting says gun reform should be prioritised11 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLana LamandHelen Livingstone,SydneyGettyA landmark royal commission into antisemitism has handed in its interim reportA landmark royal commission into antisemitism, called in the aftermath of the Bondi shooting, has recommended that gun reforms be prioritised and policing arrangements for Jewish holidays extended to other Jewish festivals.The commission - Australia's most powerful form of public inquiry - was announced in January, three weeks after two gunmen opened fire at a Jewish event at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.The interim report by former High Court judge Virginia Bell gave 14 recommendations although five of them remain confidential due to national security concerns.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said a National Security Committee meeting had agreed to implement all of Bell's recommendations.On 14 December last year, a father-and-son duo - armed with rifles and shotguns - targeted a Sunday afternoon event at a Bondi Beach park.Sajid Akram, 50, was killed by police at the scene of the shootings and his son Naveed Akram - the other alleged attacker - was critically injured and later transferred from hospital to prison.The 24-year-old has been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist attack.Thursday's report recommended that state and federal governments should prioritise efforts to "finalise and implement an updated and nationally consistent" National Firearms Agreement as well as a proposed gun buyback scheme.It also said New South Wales (NSW) police procedures used for Jewish high holy days should be extended to other "high risk Jewish festivals and events, especially those with a public facing element".Other recommendations included a review of joint counter terrorism teams in Australia and that the prime minister and national cabinet ministers sho...