Gun clubs urged to spot radicalisation signs as commission examines prevention tactics

The Antisemitism Royal Commission heard that shooting clubs should be trained to identify early warning signs of radicalisation and refer members to appropriate support.

During hearings of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, psychologist Daniel Gregg, who also serves as secretary of a shooting association in New South Wales, advocated for training gun clubs to detect radicalisation indicators and refer at-risk members to specialised pathways. Gregg highlighted a behavioural screening framework his own club employs, pairing prospective members with mentors and conducting interviews.

Commissioner Virginia Bell asked whether stricter firearms licensing might help after the Bondi Beach terror attack, but Gregg argued that self-radicalised individuals often lack criminal records, rendering tighter rules ineffective. The inquiry also examined public-awareness measures, noting that the Step Together website and helpline provide resources on violent extremism, yet remain under-known. Counter-extremism specialist Michelle Grossman urged a broad, saturation-style awareness campaign, while NSW Department of Communities and Justice director Heather Jackson described efforts to lower the Engagement and Support program’s age threshold to ten years to address early-stage extremist tendencies.