Australia’s federal and state governments are moving swiftly to strengthen the nation’s gun laws following one of the deadliest mass shootings in the country’s recent history, an attack that has reignited intense debate over gun control and national security. The push for tougher legislation comes in the wake of a December mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach that claimed the lives of at least 15 people and left dozens more injured during a large Hanukkah celebration, prompting officials to classify the violence as an act of terrorism.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese convened an urgent National Cabinet meeting on Monday after the weekend attack, which occurred as thousands of people gathered for “Chanukah by the Sea,” an annual event marking the start of the Jewish festival. The tragedy, the country’s worst such attack since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, prompted national mourning and demands from community leaders and opposition politicians for decisive action on gun policy.
At the meeting, federal and state leaders agreed on the need for immediate reforms to Australia’s already strict gun control regime, which was widely regarded globally as a model for keeping gun violence low. Officials said they would examine a series of measures including tightening background checks, limiting the types and number of firearms individuals can own, and restricting the ability of non-citizens to obtain gun licences. There was also agreement to accelerate the establishment of a national firearms register, a tool long promised but not yet fully implemented.
Prime Minister Albanese emphasised that people’s circumstances can change over time, making it essential to periodically review whether someone should retain the right to own firearms. He suggested that deeper scrutiny of licence holders and more robust checks using criminal intelligence should be part of the reform efforts. The government’s proposals also include considering limits on the number of guns a person may legally hold and restrictions on imports of certain types of weapons or high-capacity ammunition.
The decision to pursue gun law reform follows revelations that the older of the two attackers, a 50-year-old man, was a licensed firearm owner with multiple guns registered in his name, even though authorities previously had not assessed him as an imminent threat to public safety. His 24-year-old son, who joined him in the attack, is in critical condition in hospital after being shot by police at the scene. Flags associated with the Islamic State group were reportedly found in the attackers’ vehicle, and officials have indicated that the motive for the shooting was tied to extremist ideology, further complicating the national conversation on public safety and counter-terrorism.
The proposed reforms have sparked discussions about Australia’s gun laws at multiple levels of government. New South Wales Premier Chris Minns has signalled support for changes that would make it harder for individuals to acquire weapons that present a high risk to public safety, especially outside of clearly defined occupational uses such as farming or sport shooting. Some regional leaders say the laws must reflect contemporary security challenges rather than remain rooted solely in historical frameworks.
While Australia’s gun violence rates remain low compared with many other countries, the Bondi Beach attack has exposed vulnerabilities in the existing system and brought renewed urgency to debates over balancing individual rights with public safety. As the nation grapples with grief and shock, lawmakers now face mounting pressure to translate broad political consensus into concrete legal reforms aimed at preventing future tragedies.
