NSW Police Powers to Restrict Public Assemblies During Terrorist Acts

Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

3 Feb 2026: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

Legislative Assembly

Legislative Council

Assent

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Topics

police powers protest public assembly public demonstrations public order

Introduced by: The Hon Yasmin Catley MP (ALP); The Hon Tara Moriarty MLC (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

The Police Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner can declare a restriction on public assemblies in a specific area; this happens if a terrorist act is declared and the assembly would likely cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety.
Police officers can give directions during demonstrations in these restricted areas.
The Commissioner can let an Assistant Commissioner or higher-ranking officer refuse a licence or permit; this applies if the person is a risk to public safety based on criminal intelligence.
The Commissioner is banned from issuing a licence unless specific conditions are met.
Applicants must provide identity verification information; the application is treated as withdrawn if they fail to do so within the required timeframe.

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

Sarah Kaine ALP

“I make a few comments in debate on the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. Like yesterday, I do not have a crafted speech. I have some notes. Again, that is not because I have not been preoccupied thinking about the issues that we are debating today.”

Official source →

Mark Buttigieg ALP

“I contribute to debate on the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025. I thought about not contributing, but in light of the debate I feel it necessary to raise a few brief points. A consistent theme has been the hastiness of the bill—that we should not rush to action and there may be unintended consequences.”

Official source →

Penny Sharpe ALP

“The choices we make about this bill and about taking action after the horrible events of 14 December are shaped by the important debate that we have had today. I recognise the sincerely held views of everyone in this Chamber. We do not always agree, but democracy is messy. Working through those issues is important. I am not going to make a long speech in reply.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025

Ms YASMIN CATLEY, Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism — 2025-12-22

The bill acts decisively to improve public safety by amending the Firearms Act 1996. It will limit the overall number of firearms that an individual can possess and use; further restrict the types of firearms that people can possess and use; strengthen the firearms licence and permit application and renewal process, including through more frequent licence renewals and by removing barriers to the use of criminal intelligence in determining licence and permit applications; and enhance the operation of approved clubs and shooting ranges. The reforms in the bill deliver on several of the National Cabinet’s commitments to strengthen gun laws across Australia in response to the Bondi terrorist attack and previously unactioned recommendations from the Edwards coronial inquiry and the Audit Office of New South Wales.