Australia had long been viewed as a world leader in weapons legislation – the Bondi attack has revealed a much murkier reality.

On a spring day in April 1996, a single attacker armed with powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can feel like a distant memory for many citizens.

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

Firearm Possession at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While the state of Queensland has the largest arsenal, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the popular notion that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the registered individual possessing over four firearms.

Examining Australia's Present Firearm Regulations?

Firearm regulations in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have access to a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a major rewrite of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a massive buyback of over 650,000 firearms.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were prohibited, and background checks alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

New Push for Firearm Policy Changes

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

A weapons collection initiative was announced, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Addressing "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing 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 drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that limiting gun numbers would not have stopped an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains incomplete, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must evolve with new threats.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the legacy of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

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