Australia was long seen as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has exposed a far more complex reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a single attacker wielding rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent gun laws in the world, can appear as a different era for many citizens.

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

Firearm Possession at a Historic Peak

A recent report revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This equates to approximately a weapon for each small group of people.

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

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

Guns are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the average licence holder possessing over four firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Weapons legislation in Australia are not uniform across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include hunting or culling, marksmanship, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have supervision of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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 prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Gun Law Reform

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

A country-wide firearm surrender program was unveiled, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Restricting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a requirement 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 swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the overwhelming number of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a centralised weapon tracking system – 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 evolve with changing times.

They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and prevent future tragedies.

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of firearms circulating illegally – through theft – continues to pose a danger.

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