In a decisive response to the nation's deadliest mass shooting in nearly thirty years, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Monday a major push to strengthen the country's already strict firearm regulations. The move comes directly in the wake of the tragic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.
Immediate Action Agreed by National Cabinet
Following an urgent meeting of the national cabinet, which includes leaders from all Australian states and territories, the Prime Minister's office confirmed a unified stance. "Leaders agreed that strong, decisive and focused action was needed on gun law reform as an immediate action," the statement declared. This signals a swift governmental response to close perceived loopholes in the existing system.
Key Proposed Reforms Post-Attack
The proposed measures are designed to prevent a repeat of the circumstances that allowed the Bondi attacker to legally possess firearms. A central proposal is to restrict gun licenses solely to Australian citizens. This would have directly prevented the 50-year-old attacker, who was shot dead on Sunday, from obtaining a license.
Official details reveal the gunman arrived in Australia on a student visa in 1998, later switching to a partner visa in 2001, and was living legally on a resident visa. Despite not being a citizen, he had held a gun licence for approximately a decade, and police confirmed six weapons were registered under his name.
Other potential reforms under consideration include:
- Placing limits on the number of firearms a single individual can own.
- Incorporating "additional use of criminal intelligence" during the license vetting process.
- Implementing periodic reviews of existing gun licenses, moving away from lifetime permits.
PM Albanese emphasised the need for ongoing checks, stating, "People’s circumstances change, people can be radicalised over a period of time. Licences shouldn’t be in perpetuity."
A Legacy of Decisive Gun Control
Australia has a powerful precedent for enacting tough gun laws following mass shootings. The most significant overhaul occurred in 1996 after the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which claimed 35 lives. That reform led to a ban on assault rifles and many semi-automatic weapons.
The current government aims to build on that legacy. Albanese's office stated that leaders agreed to renegotiate the National Firearms Agreement "to ensure it remains as robust as possible in [a] changing security environment." This indicates a recognition that threats evolve, and laws must adapt accordingly to maintain public safety.
