Australia was widely regarded as a world leader in firearm regulation – the Bondi attack has revealed a more complicated reality.

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

That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which sparked some of the toughest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many Australians.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Tasmanian tragedy.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now over four million weapons owned by civilians across the country – a figure that is almost double the amount from about 20 years ago.

This equates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

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

The data also dispels the widespread belief that guns are mainly owned by people in regional areas.

Firearms are common in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a large share located in urban hubs.

Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing several firearms.

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

Weapons legislation in Australia are inconsistent across the country, with a mixed implementation of rules between different jurisdictions.

Typically, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be over 18, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "valid purpose" for ownership.

The permitted justifications include hunting or culling, competitive shooting, certain professional duties, and collecting.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, minors in some states can have use of 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 prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside delays for sales were introduced.

A key tenet of these reforms was the removal of "personal protection" as a acceptable grounds for gun ownership.

Fresh Calls for Firearm Policy Changes

In the wake the Bondi shooting, political leaders were forceful about the need to tighten gun laws.

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

Other proposals now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can possess.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making permanent residency a condition for firearm ownership.
• Strengthening intelligence sharing during licence application 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 reform efforts have met with opposition from some quarters.

Pro-gun advocates argue that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by extremist ideology.

They suggest that political capital would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than tightening regulations for the great bulk of law-abiding citizens.

Furthermore, a key proposed reform from 1996 – a national firearms register – remains not yet operational, though it has now been listed as a priority.

A Painful Reminder

For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a tragic indication that policies must be updated with new threats.

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

While mass shootings remain relatively rare in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a danger.

As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it takes such a tragedy to prompt action and take notice."