Leaders face criticism in wake of Bondi attacks

The federal government faces criticism for insufficient action on extremism and anti-Semitism as Albanese pushes gun reforms, while NSW Premier Chris Minns defends the police emergency response.

What we know:

• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is “ready for the fight” to tighten Australia’s firearms laws as the gun lobby and the Nationals push back against changes they claim are attempts to divert attention from radicalisation (The Guardian).

• Former prime minister John Howard said on Tuesday he supports toughening gun laws where needed but the current discussion is an “attempted diversion” from tackling anti-Semitism (ABC).

• Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has appointed a new Coalition anti-Semitism, extremism and counterterrorism taskforce to push for stronger measures, saying “for too long, anti-Semitism has been allowed to grow in plain sight” (The Canberra Times).

• Under the mounting criticism, the Albanese government says it will ramp up its response to recommendations to combat anti-Semitism put forward by special envoy Jillian Segal in July (The Guardian).

• On Tuesday, Minns also defended the NSW Police response to the terror attack, saying police “acted with bravery and integrity” amid suggestions they were too slow to disarm the two gunmen (BBC).

• “They didn’t take a backwards step. The offenders had long range rifles and NSW police officers were responsible for killing one of them and shooting the other one and as a result saving many peoples’ lives” (The Australian).

• Two police officers were wounded during the Bondi terror attack (The Guardian).