Nearly three decades after the Port Arthur massacre prompted a historic overhaul of Australia's gun laws, a crucial piece of that reform remains unfinished. The absence of a fully operational national firearms register has come under intense scrutiny following the terror attack at Bondi Beach, with experts suggesting it could have altered the course of events.
A Critical Gap in Intelligence Sharing
During the attack last Sunday, Sajid Akram and his son Naveed allegedly used six legally owned firearms to open fire on Jewish families celebrating Hanukkah. Akram, who was shot dead by police, held a firearm licence granted in 2023. His son Naveed, now charged with 59 offences including 15 counts of murder, had previously come to the attention of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (Asio) in October 2019.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that Asio's assessment at the time found "no indication of any ongoing threat." However, it remains unclear if this intelligence was shared with the New South Wales firearms registry. Alex Caruana, president of the Australian Federal Police Association, argues a real-time national database accessible to intelligence agencies could have been pivotal.
"If there was a national firearms database that Asio also had access to in real time … they might have been able to make a dynamic assessment and change the risk level of that person," Caruana told Guardian Australia.
A Register Stalled by Delays and Paper Records
The push for a National Firearms Register (NFR) gained renewed urgency after the 2022 Wieambilla shooting. A national cabinet agreement was finally signed in 2023, aiming for a mid-2028 launch. This system would provide a real-time, nationwide view of every registered firearm and licence.
Yet, a Guardian Australia investigation found the rollout has already missed key milestones. The project is hampered by inconsistent state systems, with some registries, like those in the ACT and Queensland, still relying heavily on paper records. A national cabinet document warns that without the NFR, "existing risks to police officers and community members will remain."
Following the Bondi attack, Albanese pledged to accelerate the work, noting the federal government has provided over $100 million to help states digitise their systems. Victorian Police Minister Anthony Carbines echoed the commitment to faster timelines, acknowledging the varying capacities across jurisdictions.
Law Reforms and a Major Buyback Announced
In response to the tragedy, the government is pursuing swift legislative changes. NSW Premier Chris Minns announced plans to introduce a bill capping firearm ownership at four guns per individual, with exemptions for primary producers and sporting shooters. He also proposed removing the right to appeal licence revocations through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT), a pathway he said often overturned police objections.
Furthermore, a federal law enforcement source highlighted the need for laws allowing licensing decisions to be based on non-disclosable intelligence, such as from Asio, to prevent challenges in tribunals.
On Friday, Prime Minister Albanese announced the largest national gun buyback scheme in 30 years, mirroring the landmark initiative after Port Arthur. This forms part of a broader package of potential reforms, including limiting firearm numbers and restricting licences to citizens only.
The Bondi attack has starkly illuminated the gaps in a system designed to prevent such violence, turning a long-delayed administrative project into a matter of urgent national security.
