Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi attack has revealed a far more complex situation.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a lone gunman wielding powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly thirty years ago, which ushered in some of the most stringent firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a different era for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Record High

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also dispels the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

Firearms are common in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a patchwork implementation of rules across states and territories.

Generally, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some areas can have access to 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 large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "self-defence" as a justifiable cause for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to tighten gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for regular reviews of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that imposing caps would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than changing laws for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must be updated with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the challenge of firearms circulating illegally – through black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It's sad that it takes such a tragedy to prompt action and take notice."