Australia was widely regarded as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has laid bare a more complicated reality.

On a Sunday afternoon in the year 1996, a solitary shooter using powerful firearms killed 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can seem like a distant memory for many residents.

However, the tragedy in Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has rekindled memories of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of 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 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 Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also challenges the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in population centres.

Critically, there are now more guns in fewer hands, with the average licence holder possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain occupational requirements, and as a hobby.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some areas can have supervision 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 large-scale surrender scheme 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 removal of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.

New Push for Regulatory Tightening

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

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Capping the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a condition 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 sparked debate from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a critical reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Painful Reminder

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that regulations must be updated with new threats.

They argue that reform is needed to "remain effective" and safeguard communities.

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

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a loss of life to prompt action and take notice."