On a Sunday afternoon in 1996, a solitary shooter using semi-automatic rifles killed 35 people in the historic site of Port Arthur.
That national tragedy nearly three decades ago, which ushered in some of the strictest weapons policies in the world, can feel like a bygone age for many citizens.
However, the shooting at Bondi this past Sunday, which left 15 dead, has brought back painful recollections of the Tasmanian tragedy.
A analysis revealed that there are now in excess of four million guns in private hands across the country – a figure that is roughly two times the amount from about 20 years ago.
This means approximately a weapon for each small group of people.
While the state of 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 contradicts the popular notion that guns are primarily held by those in the countryside.
Weapons are prevalent in metropolitan and suburban areas, with a significant portion located in major cities.
Critically, there are now firearms concentrated among fewer owners, with the typical gun owner possessing over four firearms.
Weapons legislation 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 "responsible individual", pass a training and safety course, and provide a "genuine reason" for ownership.
The accepted reasons include sport shooting or animal management, marksmanship, certain job-related needs, and as a hobby.
However, significant loopholes remain. For instance, individuals under 18 in some states can have access to 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 prohibited, and vetting procedures alongside mandatory cooling-off periods for sales were introduced.
A key tenet of these reforms was the elimination of "self-defence" as a valid reason for gun ownership.
In the hours following the Bondi shooting, political leaders were clear about the need to bolster gun laws.
A weapons collection initiative was proposed, marking the largest such effort since 1996.
Other proposals now under consideration include:
There are also calls for ongoing evaluations of existing licence holders, acknowledging that "people's circumstances can change" over time.
These reform efforts have drawn criticism from some quarters.
Pro-gun advocates maintain that imposing caps would not have averted an attack driven by violent beliefs.
They suggest that political capital would be better spent addressing root causes rather than restricting lawful owners for the great bulk 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 priority.
For long-time advocates, the Bondi attack is a stark warning that regulations must evolve with changing times.
They argue that reform is needed to "address deficiencies" and protect public safety.
While mass shootings remain infrequent in Australia compared to some nations, the risk persists, and the ongoing issue of weapons being misused – through black markets – continues to pose a challenge.
As one advocate reflected, "It is regrettable that it takes such a tragedy to get people to wake up and listen."
A tech strategist with over a decade of experience in digital transformation and AI-driven solutions across European markets.