Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has exposed a far more complex situation.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a lone gunman armed with powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the most guns per person.

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mostly possessed by rural residents.

Firearms are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing several firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Gun control laws in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and as a hobby.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some areas can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Certain types of firearms were banned, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was unveiled, marking the largest 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 ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by radicalisation.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must keep pace with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it takes such a loss of life to get people to wake up and take notice."