Australia Rushes Gun, Protest Laws After Stabbing, Sparking Rights Backlash

The Australian government is fast-tracking new laws to ban certain knives and criminalize protest activities at some premises. This follows a deadly stabbing attack in Sydney's Bondi Junction. Civil liberties groups strongly criticize the move. They argue the legislation was prepared before the attack and is now being rushed using the tragedy for political gain. The proposed laws would make it illegal to sell knives to minors and ban the sale of certain large knives. They would also create new offenses for protesting near facilities like ports, railways, and roads. Critics say the protest measures are extreme. They warn the laws could silence legitimate dissent and damage democratic freedoms. Some legal and community groups also oppose the new knife bans. They argue the laws unfairly target law-abiding citizens instead of addressing the root causes of violence.