Australia was long seen as a world leader in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has revealed a much murkier situation.

On a weekend day in the year 1996, a single attacker wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many Australians.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now over four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from the late 1990s.

This translates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

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

The data also challenges the common view that guns are mostly possessed by those in the countryside.

Weapons are prevalent in urban centres, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a safety program, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.

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

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

Rapid-fire weapons were prohibited, and security screenings 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 unequivocal about the need to tighten gun laws.

A national gun buyback scheme was announced, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Addressing "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Enhancing intelligence sharing during background check processes.

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of responsible owners.

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

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that policies must keep pace 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 threat persists, and the legacy of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate stated, "It is regrettable that it needs such a tragedy to prompt action and take notice."