Australia was long seen as a global exemplar in gun control – Bondi has laid bare a far more complex reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in April 1996, a solitary shooter armed with semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly a generation ago, which led to some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can appear as a different era for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A recent report revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

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

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

The data also dispels the common view that guns are primarily held by people in regional areas.

Firearms are widespread in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in major cities.

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

What Are Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules in various regions.

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "legitimate need" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, target or sport shooting, certain professional duties, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some jurisdictions can have access to a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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 outlawed, and background checks alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "personal protection" 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 strengthen gun laws.

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

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Addressing "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.

A Nuanced Discussion

These proposed changes have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have prevented an attack driven by violent beliefs.

They suggest that resources would be better spent improving intelligence rather than changing laws for the vast majority of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must evolve with technological advances.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.

While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the legacy of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

As one advocate noted, "It is regrettable that it requires such a tragedy to prompt action and listen."