TAYLAH STRANO, HOST: Questions have started to be raised, mainly about why a man living in suburban Australia is able to have six guns, and if our laws around gun ownership and regulation are due a refresh. The Prime Minister put gun reform on the agenda as national cabinet met this week, the New South Wales premier also committing to reexamine the laws at a state level too. But what impact will it have? Let's ask Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese. Prime Minister, you've been down in Bondi speaking with members of the Jewish community over the last few days. How are they feeling?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, they're feeling devastated. This was an attack that was targeted at Chanukah, the first day, what should be a joyous celebration, the festival of light. And what we saw was a very dark moment. So, they are feeling very upset. Understandably, for many of them who've lost family or loved ones friends, they are feeling traumatised. This is not the Australian way. And therefore, I think one of the things that we are seeing though, is Australians overwhelmingly reach out to members of the Jewish community to embrace them, to respect them and to stand with them at this difficult time.
STRANO: We keep hearing that this is not our Australia, and this should never have happened in Australia. So why and how did it?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, these father and son, the evidence is that they were motivated by the sort of ideology of the Islamic State, that there were flags present in the back of their vehicle that they drove to Bondi in order to cause harm. This is a perverse ideology, a terrorist ideology that does not respect human life, and that is antisemitic in character, but anti- humanity as well. And tragically, we've seen that play out at that iconic Australian venue of Bondi Beach.
STRANO: You mentioned there the homemade flag that was recovered. Also, we know these two men travelled to the Philippines for military style training. Does this indicate an intelligence failure?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it indicates people, of course, travelling overseas. That's what Australians do from time to time. And the issue of their radicalization is one that is still, of course, part of the investigation that's taking place, but it is also the case that they were not seen to be persons of interest, and that is why this is such a shocking event.
STRANO: We've now received reports that one of the alleged gunmen, Naveed Akram, has regained consciousness in hospital. What happens now in that regard?
PRIME MINISTER: That information is correct. He will be charged formally, if he hasn't been so already, I would expect that will take place over the coming hours.
STRANO: I want to talk Prime Minister about one of the many people who have emerged as a hero in what has been just a wake of horror. That, of course, is Ahmed Al Ahmed, the man who wrestled a gun away from one of the alleged shooters. He's now broken his silence. He's thanked people for their efforts from his hospital bed. You were able to visit him. How is he?
PRIME MINISTER: He was remarkably humble for someone who is clearly a hero. He went through his experience in great detail. He had visited Bondi Beach with a couple of relatives and friends to get a cup of coffee on a Sunday afternoon. He ran into the area where the Chanukah festival was taking place with the members of the Jewish community. They invited him to participate, to come in to where the festival was taking place. So, he was aware of that. He was just looking for a cup of coffee and a quiet Sunday afternoon. And he will go through surgery. He is a brave Australian, and shows the best of the Australian character. And I think at a time where people are so devastated by what has happened, this is an element of light in this period where darkness descended upon Bondi Beach. And all Australians, I think, will look at Ahmed Al Ahmed and just say that is someone who has risked his own life in order to help others. I certainly wish him all the very best and hope that he comes through the surgery okay. I met his father and mother, who are visiting him here in Australia at the moment, and they're quite rightly proud of their son.
STRANO: Prime Minister, there's been criticism of your action to antisemitism since the rise in attacks since October 7. Jacinta Nampijinpa Price saying that you're not fit to hold the office that you occupy. What's your response to these growing concerns and criticism that not enough is being done to stamp out antisemitism?
PRIME MINISTER: We've been working through the range of issues, and this isn't a time for politics. This is a time to unite as a nation. We have implemented hate speech laws. We've outlawed Nazi symbols. We've introduced the first ever Special Envoy on Antisemitism in Australia. We've introduced and appointed a National Student Ombudsman. We're having education in schools. We've implemented a comprehensive security programme to assist the Jewish community. We're funding a National Holocaust Education Centre in Canberra, as well as increased funding that's been available for the Sydney Jewish Museum and for Jewish cultural institutions in Perth, in Melbourne, we have had a comprehensive response. There's more to do, and we want to continue to work with members of the Jewish community, and particularly with the Special Envoy on Antisemitism. This isn't something in which you pass a law and it's done. This is about attitudes. Antisemitism has been around for a very long period of time. Every Australian has the right to go about their business, practice, their faith, and to do so in safety and security here in Australia.
STRANO: Prime Minister, a lot of people's attention now is focusing not just on mourning the loss of life and this tragedy, but also looking at things like changes to our gun laws, if stricter restrictions could have helped prevent something like this. Now, the New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has already committed to reexamining them at the state level. You've put this to the National Cabinet, and we now know that that is something that will be looked upon. Can you talk to me a little bit about what that could look like and realistically, when we could see this type of legislation passed?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, the reason why I have taken that proposal from the New South Wales Premier to the National Cabinet is that our gun laws are only as strong as the weakest link in them, because unless all states strengthen their laws, then there will be gaps in the system. So we're looking at accelerating the National Firearms Register so that, essentially, it can be digitised, so that there can be seamless information got across jurisdictions, allowing additional use of criminal intelligence, not just looking up for criminal charges and looking at a rap sheet of someone who's applying for a firearms licence, but looking at intelligence issues as well, including if there's any perception of risk there, and considering issues such as; does someone who is living in Bonnyrigg in Sydney suburbs need six firearms, even If they are a member of a gun club? So looking at that issue, looking at whether there's a need to limit open ended firearms licencing, or whether there's a need for ongoing review or reapplication, just like occurs with a driver's licence, and whether we need to make Australian citizenship condition of holding a firearm licence as well, seems to me to be a common sense move that I'm hopeful states and territories will agree to. What National Cabinet has done is tasked the New South Wales Premier Chris Minns and the WA Premier Roger Cook to come back to National Cabinet early next year, as early as possible, with an agreement from states and territories about moving forward through the various jurisdictions, because licencing is done by the states and territories, the Commonwealth's role is just trying to seek to coordinate that activity.
STRANO: We've actually received reports that some gun shop owners have seen huge volumes of calls this week for orders licences after talk of reform coming. Should we be worried about an influx of more guns and owners before changes can be made?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, I want to see less guns available rather than more. And I want people who have a legitimate use of guns, people in regional communities, often it's a part of land holding as well in our rural and agricultural sector, you know, people engaged, if they're in supporting shooters organisations, there's a range of legitimate use of guns. But what we need to do as well, and part of the agreement was to again emphasise the gun buyback provisions that are available, and for us also to look at customs as well. Is there, are there changes in technology, such as 3D printing that weren't around when the gun laws were first implemented in the wake of Port Arthur back in 1996.