In the aftermath of the antisemitic Islamic State terrorist attack in Bondi on 14th December it quickly became clear that firearms laws would be changed, that law abiding firearms owners would be held responsible for the failure of the Albanese Federal Government, the Minns NSW Labor Government, ASIO, the Federal Police and NSW Police. Mark and Robert were left reeling by the brutality of the attack, only to receive the gut punch that laws abiding fire arms owners were about to be hit with unprecedented, irrational firearms legislation from the NSW Government that was just for show and would save no lives. The Premier surrounded himself with senior police and anti-gun campaigners and left the parliament in the dark until the last minute, then recalled Parliament just before Christmas to ram the new laws through, enabled by bipartisan support from the Liberal Party.
The Power of Loss
On 23rd December, 2025, Parliament began with condolence motions and both members were moved to tears by the emotions that the attack had brought to them. Robert spoke of his father's experience in concentration camps and of the freedom that Australia was for a Polish migrant.
And Mark spoke of the real feeling of grief, how the passing of a loved one brings about a terrible silence.
An Opening Salvo
As soon as the Second Reading speeches began Robert and Mark made clear their position. Mark called out the premier and other members of parliament who deflected their own guilt in the creation of this legislation. He gave the laundry list of flaws that targeted the most law abiding members of society, licensed firearms owners, and how it would adversely impact those in rural and outer metropolitan NSW especially. He named the names of MPs who had supported extremist protesters and march under terrorist flags. And he made the promise that SFF would go after them in their electorates.
Robert condemned the refusal of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Chris Minns to acknowledge that the Bondi massacre was an Islamic extremism terror attack, calling out their avoidance of responsibility and punishment of compliant, law abiding firearms owners.
Mark then proposed an amendment to send the new firearms, protest and terrorism laws to a select inquiry but the Government and Opposition steadfastly resisted scrutiny and accountability and blocked it.
The Bill In Committee - Amendments
The party used a two pronged attack. Robert fought the ideological, city-centric woke amendments of the Greens Political Party and the Animal Justice Party, and Mark proposed SFF's amendments. From the outset it was clear that the Labor Government were unwilling to change the draft in any way.
As the night wore on and reasonable amendments to the Terrorism & Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 were raised only to be voted down, Mark called a spade a spade telling the NSW Liberal Party to get some courage, and walk the walk, not just talk the talk. "You don't have to be bipartisan on shit legislation."
Schooling The Greens Political Party
The Greens did not pass up the opportunity to add obstructive, ideologically based amendments to the bill and Robert called them out accordingly. Robert's stoush with Sue Higgenson MLC and Abigail Boyd MLC in this speech dismissed their illogical demand for a marksmanship test to be added to the bill.
Condemning the Animal Justice Party's City-Focused Woke Ideology.
Emma Hurst MLC of the Animal Justice Party grasped the opportunity to attack hunters and legal firearms owners with both hands. In her first amendment she sought to have Juniors' Firearms Permits removed from the legislation. Robert dismissed this detailing the valuable safety and cultural benefits that these permits provide. Everyone aside of the Greens agreed with SFF and it was defeated.
Ms Hurst also tried to have Recreational Hunting removed as a genuine reason for owning a firearm. Robert rose and tore through the thinly veiled public safety justification to expose the woke, city-centric animal rights agenda designed to destroy agriculture, Australian and international cultural traditions and our native animal populations. The AJP's amendment was defeated by a huge majority.
Fight To The Last - SFF's Rational Amendments
Mark then took up the mantle from late in 23rd December and on into the early hours of Christmas Eve 2025 to propose a whole suite of amendments by Shooters, Fishers & Farmers. These were designed to make the bill fair and just, manage its implementation in a methodical and reasonable way, and hold Police, the NSW Government, NCAT and the NSW Firearms Registry to account. None of these were supported as the Minns Labor Government and the Liberal Opposition voted in concert to defeat them. The below video is time stamped so you can move through to those amendments you wish to watch.
Not Just A Threat - A Promise
With the terrible conclusion, that law abiding firearms owners were the scapegoat for government and law enforcement negligence and failure at a state and federal level, Mark and Robert emerged with the vow. SFF will hold both Labor and Liberal politicians accountable at the March 2027 election, and during the intervening period as new firearms regulations are decided. The fight goes on.
