Australia had long been viewed as a global exemplar in firearm regulation – the Bondi tragedy has exposed a more complicated situation.

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

That massacre nearly a generation ago, which sparked some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can appear as a bygone age for many citizens.

However, the Bondi Beach attack this past Sunday, which claimed 15 lives, has rekindled memories of the Port Arthur massacre.

Weapons Holdings at a Unprecedented Level

A study released earlier this year revealed that there are now in excess of four million privately-owned firearms across the country – a figure that is nearly twice the amount from the late 1990s.

This translates to approximately one firearm per seven citizens.

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 mostly possessed by people in regional areas.

Weapons are prevalent in cities and their outskirts, with a large share located in major cities.

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

Understanding Australia's Existing Weapons Policies?

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

Generally, to obtain a gun licence, an individual must be an adult, deemed a "responsible individual", pass a competency test, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.

The allowable purposes include sport shooting or animal management, competitive shooting, certain occupational requirements, and for collections.

However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, young people in some states can have use of a firearm from as young as 10 or 12 years old.

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

Automatic and semi-automatic rifles were outlawed, and background checks alongside waiting periods for sales were introduced.

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

Fresh Calls for Regulatory Tightening

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

A national gun buyback scheme was proposed, marking the most significant such effort since 1996.

Other planned reforms now under consideration include:

• Limiting the number of guns an individual can legally own.
• Ending "open-ended" licensing arrangements.
• Making Australian citizenship a prerequisite for firearm ownership.
• Improving intelligence sharing during vetting processes.

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

A Nuanced Discussion

These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.

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

They suggest that resources would be better spent combating radicalisation rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk of responsible owners.

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

Tragedy as a Wake-Up Call

For campaigners, the Bondi attack is a horrific reminder that regulations must be updated with technological advances.

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

While mass shootings remain uncommon in Australia compared to some nations, the potential persists, and the ongoing issue of guns in the wrong hands – through black markets – continues to pose a problem.

As one advocate noted, "It's sad that it needs such a tragedy to focus attention and listen."