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

On a weekend day in 1996, a single attacker armed with powerful firearms murdered 35 people in the Australian tourist town of Port Arthur.

That massacre nearly three decades ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can appear as a different era for many residents.

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

Firearm Possession at a Record High

A analysis revealed that there are now more than four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from the late 1990s.

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 Victoria, it is the island state and the Northern Territory that have the highest rate of firearm ownership.

The data also contradicts the popular notion that guns are primarily held by people in regional areas.

Firearms are common in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in major cities.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Gun control laws in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a disparate implementation of rules across states and territories.

Broadly speaking, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", 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 collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some states 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 large-scale surrender scheme of over 650,000 firearms.

Rapid-fire weapons were outlawed, and security screenings alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Renewed Demands for Gun Law Reform

In the immediate aftermath the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to tighten gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was unveiled, marking the largest such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can have registered.
• Reforming "indefinite" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application processes.

There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "individuals can be radicalised" over time.

A Complicated Debate

These reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

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

They suggest that focus would be better spent improving intelligence rather than tightening regulations for the overwhelming number of responsible owners.

Furthermore, a long-promised 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 long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that policies must keep pace with changing times.

They argue that strengthening is needed to "keep up-to-date" and prevent future tragedies.

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

As one advocate stated, "It is unfortunate that it takes such a loss of life to prompt action and listen."