Former Prime Minister John Howard has called out Anthony Albanese's government, warning against using gun law reforms to divert attention from addressing antisemitism in Australia.

Council of the City of Sydney

Following a recent terror attack, Australian political leaders are facing public scrutiny over their responses to anti-Semitism and gun control. The national cabinet is moving to tighten gun laws, including restricting firearm types and ownership, and accelerating a national firearms register. 

Former Prime Minister John Howard expressed support for tougher gun laws but cautioned against using these reforms as a distraction from confronting anti-Semitism. Howard criticized Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's efforts, stating that the real issue is anti-Semitism, not gun ownership, while Albanese defended his government's actions to protect the Jewish community.

John Howard criticizes Albanese over response to antisemitism

A grieving nation looks to political leaders, past and present. God bless you, John. Pauline Hanson and Barnaby Joyce welcomed with open arms. We love you, Pauline. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke followed and heckled. This is your fault! Blood on your hands, Tony Burke! It's raw, emotions are high and people are angry. And I understand that completely. There's anger because the question for governments is, have they done all they can to deal with anti-Semitism? In response to the terror attack, national cabinets looking to tighten gun laws, restricting the types of legal firearms, how many can be owned and by Australian citizens only. Also accelerating the launch of a national firearms register, which they agreed to two years ago. Other people I've been speaking to were surprised that those things aren't already part of our gun safety framework. I'm determined to bring in the toughest gun laws in Australia. It would be the biggest shake-up to gun control since John Howard's crackdown following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. Since then, gun ownership's up 25%, four million owned by civilians nationwide. The former PM says he always welcomes tougher laws, but doesn't want gun reform used as a diversion. To avoid the broader debate about the spread of hatred of Jewish people and anti-Semitism. That would be an evasion of responsibility. Scathing of Anthony Albanese's efforts to stop the spread of hate. We don't have a gun problem in Australia, we have an anti-Semitism problem in this country. To now bring in gun laws as a result of this, it's almost insulting. The Prime Minister's defended his government's efforts to protect the Jewish community as he seeks to display strength at a time of crisis. The opposition hasn't weighed in on the gun reform, but in the past 48 hours, bipartisanship has been limited. This is not a time for politics. This is a time for national unity. Chloe Boris, 10 News.

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