Australia was long seen as a international standard-bearer in gun control – Bondi has laid bare a much murkier situation.

On a weekend day in April 1996, a solitary shooter using rapid-fire weapons took the lives of 35 people in the Tasmanian tourist destination of Port Arthur.

That horrific event nearly thirty years ago, which led to some of the most stringent weapons policies in the world, can seem like a bygone age for many Australians.

However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the 1996 shootings.

Gun Ownership at a Unprecedented Level

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

This means 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 challenges the common view that guns are mainly owned by those in the countryside.

Firearms are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a significant portion located in major cities.

Critically, there are now weapons owned by a smaller group, with the registered individual possessing more than four firearms.

What Are Australia's Current Gun Laws?

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

Generally, to secure a gun licence, an individual must be of legal age, deemed a "fit and proper person", pass a safety program, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain job-related needs, and for collections.

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

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

Certain types of firearms were prohibited, 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 unequivocal about the need to tighten gun laws.

A weapons collection initiative was announced, marking the first such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

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

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

An Ongoing Controversy

These swift actions have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that political capital would be better spent improving intelligence rather than restricting lawful owners for the vast majority of law-abiding citizens.

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

A Painful Reminder

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

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 potential persists, and the legacy of weapons being misused – through poor storage – continues to pose a challenge.

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