Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi attack has revealed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in 1996, a lone gunman using powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now more than four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This means approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the most registered guns, followed by NSW and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the NT that have the greatest density of weapons.

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Guns are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant gaps remain. For instance, minors in some areas 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.

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were unequivocal about the need to bolster gun laws.

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Capping 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 background check processes.

There are also calls for periodic reassessments of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "situations evolve" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than changing laws for the vast majority of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a key project.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that gun laws must evolve with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "keep up-to-date" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the threat persists, and the legacy of firearms circulating illegally – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it needs such a tragedy to focus attention and pay heed."