Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in gun control – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a far more complex truth.

On a spring day in the year 1996, a solitary shooter using powerful firearms took the lives of 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the toughest firearm regulations in the world, can seem like a different era for many Australians.

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

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from two decades prior.

This equates to approximately one gun for every seven Australians.

While Queensland has the highest number of legal firearms, followed by New South Wales (NSW) and the state of Victoria, it is Tasmania and the Northern Territory that have the most guns per person.

The data also dispels the common view that guns are primarily held by rural residents.

Guns are widespread in cities and their outskirts, with a sizable percentage located in population centres.

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

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

Firearm regulations in Australia are varied across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Broadly speaking, to apply for a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "suitable candidate", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

However, significant shortcomings remain. For instance, minors in some jurisdictions can have use of a firearm from as young as early adolescence.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles 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.

New Push 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 unveiled, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other proposals now under consideration include:

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

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These proposed changes have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates maintain that restricting ownership would not have stopped an attack driven by extremist ideology.

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

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a country-wide gun database – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a urgent task.

A Catalyst for Change

For reformers, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must evolve with changing times.

They argue that modernisation is needed to "keep up-to-date" and safeguard communities.

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through theft – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it takes such a devastating event to get people to wake up and pay heed."