NSW Police Minister questioned over Bondi gunman's firearm licence delay

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley has faced intense questioning during budget estimates regarding the delayed issuance of a firearms licence to Sajid Akram, the individual shot dead during the December 14 Bondi Beach terrorist attack. While Akram applied for a Category A/B licence in June 2020, it was not approved until July 2023.

Catley previously attributed the three-year delay to a backlog at the NSW Firearms Registry. However, officials noted that during 2020, the average processing time for such applications was between 76 and 96 days. During the hearing, MLC Mark Banasiak presented minutes from a March 2022 meeting suggesting Akram may have been part of a group of four outstanding internal reviews, which could indicate his application was initially refused.

Catley declined to provide further specifics, stating her previous explanations were based on the information available at the time. She suggested that further clarity should be sought from the upcoming Royal Commission into Social Cohesion and anti-Semitism, headed by Virginia Bell, which is expected to deliver its final report in mid-December. Catley also noted the need to avoid prejudicing the criminal case of Naveed Akram, who faces numerous charges related to the attack.