Australian move to fast-track new gun and protest laws draws criticism

Civil liberties advocates say laws 'damage our democracy' while others say they scapegoat gun owners.

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On Monday, the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) recalled its parliament to debate a raft of new laws such as banning the phrase "globalise the intifada", limiting the number of guns one person can own, and greater police powers for protests.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said some may feel the changes had "gone too far" but they were needed to keep the community safe.

A pro-gun politician said the laws unfairly target law-abiding gun owners while civil libertarians said restrictions on protests were an affront to democracy.

On banning the "intifada" phrase, Minns said its use at protests in Australia and around the world "are a call to a global intifada. That is what it means. Not in the Middle East, not in Israel or Gaza but here in Sydney".