The nation of Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in weapons legislation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a far more complex situation.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a solitary shooter wielding powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which sparked some of the strictest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a different era for many citizens.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While the state of Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is the island state and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.

Weapons are prevalent in urban centres, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the average licence holder possessing over four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include recreational hunting or pest control, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were prohibited, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "home security" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates contend that limiting gun numbers would not have averted an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

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

A Catalyst for Change

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must be updated with changing times.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the challenge of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It is unfortunate that it needs such a devastating event to prompt action and pay heed."