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

On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a lone gunman armed with semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the strictest gun laws in the world, can feel like a different era for many residents.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which resulted in 15 fatalities, has rekindled memories of the 1996 shootings.

Weapons Holdings at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from two decades prior.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria, it is Tasmania 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.

Weapons are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in major cities.

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

Examining Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, 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, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

Following the Port Arthur massacre, a sweeping overhaul of national gun laws was enacted, leading to a voluntary hand-in of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were banned, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the rejection of "home security" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other suggested measures now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "perpetual" licensing arrangements.
• Making formal citizenship a requirement 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.

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have sparked debate from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of licensed individuals.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains unfinished, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that gun laws must be updated with new threats.

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

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

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