Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi attack has revealed a more complicated truth.
On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter using powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.
That massacre nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many citizens.
However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has revived the ghosts of the Port Arthur massacre.
Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level
A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.
This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.
While Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.
The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by rural residents.
Firearms are prevalent in urban centres, with a large share located in population centres.
Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the typical gun owner possessing more than four firearms.
What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?
Gun control laws in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules across states and territories.
Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.
The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and for collections.
However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, young people in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.
Following the Port Arthur massacre, a comprehensive reform of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.
Certain types of firearms were banned, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.
A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.
New Push for Firearm Policy Changes
In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to tighten gun laws.
A country-wide firearm surrender program was proposed, marking the first such effort since 1996.
Other proposals now under consideration include:
- Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
- Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
- Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
- Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.
There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.
An Ongoing Controversy
These reform efforts have sparked debate from some quarters.
Pro-gun advocates argue that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by violent beliefs.
They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of law-abiding citizens.
Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a key project.
A Catalyst for Change
For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must evolve with technological advances.
They argue that strengthening is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.
While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.
As one advocate reflected, "It's sad that it requires such a tragedy to get people to wake up and pay heed."
