Bondi shooting LIVE updates: Court documents reveal gunmen’s alleged two-month plot; NSW law reforms spark protest

Australia continues to grapple with the Bondi Beach terror attack, more than a week after December 14, when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukkah celebration, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more.

Follow along here for rolling updates on the continued fallout.

Here’s what you need to know this morning.

• The full case against the Bondi shooters can be revealed after the media advocated for the release of court documents that allege the father and son trained in Australia for their attacks.
• Protesters gathered in Sydney and Melbourne on Monday in response to plans announced in both states to restrict protests after terror attacks, with some attendees in Sydney chanting “globalise the intifada”.
• A funeral for Dan Elkayam, a 27-year-old French engineer who was killed in the massacre, was held on Monday. He was described by friends and family as “humble and loving”.
• Twelve victims remain in hospital, and four remain in a critical but stable condition.
• Accused Bondi terrorist Naveed Akram has been transferred from hospital to a correctional centre in Sydney.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he understood anger being directed towards him at Sunday’s vigil, and apologised for “what the Jewish community and our nation as a whole has experienced”.
• Also on Monday, Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley launched an extraordinary attack on Foreign Minister Penny Wong, criticising the minister’s behaviour and absence in Sydney since last Sunday.
• NSW Premier Chris Minns will subject hate speech legislation introduced on Monday to further scrutiny, announcing that the reforms will be referred to a parliamentary committee.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s approval rating fell in the aftermath of the terror attack as social cohesion frays, polling by this masthead reveals. The PM met with cabinet on Monday and also convened a meeting of the national security committee.
• Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan announced further steps to fight antisemitism on Monday, including reforms that will look to bolster hate speech laws, give police more powers to crack down on protesters, and reassess gun laws.

A vigil and rally is held in Sydney to protest the NSW government’s proposed anti-protest laws. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer

A woman who allegedly made an offensive phone call to a business in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been charged after an investigation by Operation Shelter, the taskforce established to investigate antisemitic hate crimes.

On Sunday morning, a 49-year-old business operator received a phone message that police say caused “immediate fear”. The woman immediately reported the message.

Following inquiries by the Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command under Operation Shelter, police arrested a 26-year-old woman at a home in Meadowbank on Monday afternoon. She was charged at Gladesville Police Station with using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend.

The woman will appear in Burwood Local Court on January 15. She was released under strict bail conditions.

NSW Police established the operation after the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack on Israel to investigate antisemitic hate crimes.

An overwhelming majority of Australians want a crackdown on gun laws, from restrictions on who can own guns to the number of weapons a person can have, in a sign that no restriction is deemed too extreme for most voters.

As the NSW government pushed through with changes to its gun laws, a Resolve Political Monitor poll found three-quarters of Australians believed laws had to be toughened. Ten per cent were satisfied with current arrangements.

National cabinet last week agreed to a string of measures to strengthen gun laws, including the creation of a national firearms register and limiting open-ended licences.

The proposals have prompted some opposition.

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The NSW Nationals have split from the state Liberal party, vowing to reject the proposals that include a cap of four firearms for individuals and reviews of gun licences every two years introduced into the NSW parliament by Premier Chris Minns on Monday.

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan on Monday announced former police chief commissioner Ken Lay would review her state’s gun laws, on top of changes to hate speech powers and extra powers to local police to deal with protesters.

Read the full story here.