View source for Gun laws of Australia

{{Use Australian English|date=March 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{short description|Overview of the gun laws in Australia}}
'''Firearms restriction in Australia''' primarily fall under the jurisdiction of [[States and territories of Australia|Australian states and territories]], while the [[Government of Australia|federal government]] oversees the importation of firearms. During the last two decades of the 20th century, in response to several high-profile mass shootings, the federal government worked closely with state governments to implement more stringent firearms legislation.

Gun laws were largely aligned in 1996 by the [[National Firearms Agreement]] which introduced stricter gun control measures and explicitly made gun ownership a privilege. In two federally funded [[gun buyback]]s and voluntary surrenders and State Governments' gun amnesties before and after the [[Port Arthur massacre (Australia)|Port Arthur Massacre]], more than a million firearms were collected and destroyed, possibly a third of the national stock.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Alpers |first1=Philip |title=Gun control: Change is possible – and fast |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/16/opinion/australia-gun-laws/index.html |access-date=6 May 2019 |quote=In two nationwide, federally funded gun buybacks, plus large-scale voluntary surrenders and state gun amnesties both before and after Port Arthur, Australia collected and destroyed more than a million firearms, perhaps one-third of the national stock. |agency=[[CNN]] |date=11 June 2014|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407033912/https://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/16/opinion/australia-gun-laws/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Since then the Agreement has continued to have support from both Labor and Coalition Federal Governments. In December 2023 the [[National Cabinet (Australia)|National Cabinet]] agreed to implement a national firearms register within four years.<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407032643/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-06/national-cabinet-key-decisions-explained/103194464 |title=The four things you need to know about Wednesday's national cabinet meeting |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-06/national-cabinet-key-decisions-explained/103194464 |date=6 December 2023 |first=Georgia |last=Roberts |access-date=7 April 2024|archive-date=7 April 2024|url-status=live|at=National firearms register |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |quote="The register will address significant gaps and inconsistencies with the way firearms are managed across all jurisdictions," the prime minister said. The national cabinet will work towards the register being fully operational within four years.}}</ref>

A person must have a [[firearms license|firearm licence]] to possess or use a firearm. Licence holders must be able to demonstrate at least one "genuine reason" (which explicitly excludes self-defence) for holding a firearm licence<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996|12}}</ref> and must not be a "prohibited person". All firearms must be [[gun registry|registered]] by serial number to the owner.

According to a 2025 review by [[The Australia Institute]], while the National Firearms Agreement significantly improved public safety, the number of registered firearms has increased by approximately 25% since 1996. They noted emerging threats such as 3D-printed guns and recommended strengthening firearm regulations.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Chollet |first1=Olivia |last2=Gottschalk |first2=Adam |last3=Clarke |first3=Vivien |last4=Grundy |first4=Alice |date=January 2025 |title=Gun control in Australia An update on firearms data and policies |url=https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/P1606-Gun-control-in-Australia-report-WEB.pdf |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The Australia Institute}}</ref>

==National legislative structure==
Following the shooting incidents at Port Arthur in 1996 and [[Monash University shooting|Monash University in 2002]] the Australian state and territory governments, through the then Australian Police Ministers' Council (APMC) and [[Council of Australian Governments|Council of Australian Governments (COAG)]], entered into three national agreements that were responsible for shaping contemporary Australian firearm laws. These agreements were the:
* [[National Firearms Agreement]] (1996)
* National Firearm Trafficking Policy Agreement (2002)
* National Handgun Control Agreement (2002).<ref>{{cite book|title=Australian gun laws|url=https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi361|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407051816/https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi361|at=Handgun ownership in Australia|quote=Since 1996, Australian state and territory governments have sought to strengthen regulations regarding the ownership, use and transfer of firearms in Australia through the enactment of legislation based on the National Firearms Agreement 1996, National Handgun Control Agreement 2002 and the National Firearms Trafficking Policy Agreement 2002. The legislation prohibits certain models of handguns (based on criteria regarding barrel length, firing capacity and calibre); restricts ownership and use primarily to sports shooters, firearm collectors and security industry employees; and outlines specified storage arrangements. An amendment was also made to the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 2002, preventing the importation of handgun models and parts specified as prohibited. |archive-date=7 April 2024|website=|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia, [[Australian Institute of Criminology]]|location=[[Canberra]] [[Australian Capital Territory]] |last=Bricknell|first=Samantha|issn=0817-8542|isbn=9781921185908|date=30 September 2008|number=361|editor-first=Judy|editor-last=Putt|access-date=7 April 2024}}</ref>

The ownership, possession and use of firearms in Australia is regulated by state and territory laws:<ref name="loc" />
* [[New South Wales]]: ''Firearms Act 1996'',<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996}}</ref> ''Weapons Prohibition Act 1998'',<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|wpa1998231|Weapons Prohibition Act 1998}}</ref> and associated regulations
* [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]: ''Firearms Act 1996''<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Vic|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996}}</ref> and associated regulations
* [[Queensland]]: ''Weapons Act 1990''<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Qld|act|wa1990107|Weapons Act 1990}}</ref> and associated regulations
* [[Western Australia]]: ''Firearms Act 2024''<ref>[https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_48120.pdf/$FILE/Firearms%20Act%202024%20-%20%5B00-e0-01%5D.pdf?OpenElement]</ref> and associated regulations
* [[South Australia]]: ''Firearms Act 2015''<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|SA|act|fa2015102|Firearms Act 2015}}</ref> and associated regulations
* [[Tasmania]]: ''Firearms Act 1996''<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Tas|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996}}</ref> and associated regulations
* [[Northern Territory]]: ''Firearms Act 1997''<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|NT|act|fa102|Firearms Act}}</ref> and associated regulations
* [[Australian Capital Territory]]: ''Firearms Act 1996'',<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|ACT|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996}}</ref> ''Prohibited Weapons Act 1996'', and associated regulations.<ref name=loc>Library of Congress: {{cite web |url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llglrd/2013417226/2013417226.pdf |archive-date=7 April 2024|date=February 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407043517/https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/service/ll/llglrd/2013417226/2013417226.pdf|url-status=live|title=Firearms-control legislation and policy |page=16 |author=Prepared by Ruth Levush Senior Foreign Law Specialist and Project Coordinator |work=The Law Library of Congress, Global Legal Research Directorate}}</ref>

At the federal level, the importation of firearms is subject to the restrictions in Regulation 4F and Schedule 6 of the ''Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956'' ([[Parliament of Australia|Cth]]).<ref>{{cite Legislation AU|Cth|reg|cir1956432|Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956}}</ref>

== Firearms categories ==
The National Firearm Agreement defines categories of firearms, with different levels of control for each, as follows:.

;Category A: [[Rimfire ammunition|Rimfire]] [[rifle]]s (not [[semi-automatic rifle|semi-automatic]]), [[shotguns]] (not [[pump-action]], [[Semi-automatic firearm|semi-automatic]], or [[lever-action]])<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url=https://www.dnrme.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/1399510/17-257.pdf|title=National Firearms Agreement|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref> & [[air rifles]] (including semi-automatic).
;Category B: [[Centrefire]] rifles including [[bolt-action]], pump-action and lever-action (not semi-automatic), [[Muzzleloader|muzzleloading]] firearms made after 1 January 1901 and lever-action shotguns with a [[magazine (firearms)|magazine]] capacity of up to five rounds.<ref name=":0" />
;Category C: [[Pump-action shotgun|Pump-action]] or [[semi-automatic shotgun|self-loading shotgun]]s having a magazine capacity of 5 or fewer rounds and semi-automatic rimfire rifles up to 10 rounds. [[Primary sector of the economy|Primary producer]]s, [[farm worker]]s, [[gun shop|firearm dealer]]s, [[firearm safety]] officers, [[collecting|collector]]s and [[clay pigeon shooting|clay target shooter]]s can own functional Category C firearms. In Western Australia, Category C shotguns may be owned by sporting shooters who participate in [[International Practical Shooting Confederation#Shotgun|practical shotgun]] competitions. This is generally limited to second-hand shotguns.
;Category D:All self-loading centrefire rifles, pump-action or self-loading or lever-action shotguns<ref name=":0" /> that have a magazine capacity of more than five rounds, semi-automatic rimfire rifles over ten rounds, are restricted to government agencies, occupational shooters and primary producers.
;Category H: [[Handgun]]s can be owned for a number of "genuine reasons" including [[target shooting]], [[service pistol|occupational]] ([[security guard]] and [[prison guard]]), carrying on behalf of a junior, and official, commercial or prescribed purposes authorised by an Act or Regulation.  For target shooters, a paid membership to an approved pistol club is mandated.
:Handguns allowed for target shooting are divided into four classes:
#[[Air pistol|Air handgun]]
#[[Rimfire ammunition|Rimfire]] handgun
#[[Centrefire]] handgun with a calibre of {{convert|.38|in}} or less, or a [[black powder]] handgun
#Centrefire handgun with a calibre of more than .38 inch but not more than {{convert|.45|in}}
:The amount of shooting participation that a licensed target shooter is obliged to complete is solely determined by the number of ''classes'' of handguns that are legally "owned" by that person — not the actual quantity of handguns owned.  A minimum number of matches is required yearly to retain ownership for each class of handgun and continue being a paid-up member of an approved pistol club,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/services/firearms |title=Firearms Registry |website=NSW Police Force}}</ref> and it varies between states.
:To be eligible for a Category H Licence, a target shooter must serve a probationary period of at least 6 months and have to participate a minimum number of shooting sessions using club handguns, after which they are required to leave a [[fingerprint]] record with the police before applying for a permit. Target shooters are limited to handguns below .38 or 9mm calibers, and [[magazine (firearms)|magazine]]s may hold a maximum of 10 rounds. Participants in certain "approved" pistol competitions (currently only [[Single Action Shooting]] and [[Metallic Silhouette]]) may acquire handguns up to [[.45 ACP|.45]] caliber. [[International Practical Shooting Confederation|IPSC]] shooting is approved for [[9mm Parabellum|9mm]]/[[.38 Special|.38]]/[[.357 SIG]] for handguns that meet the IPSC rules. Larger calibres such as .45 were approved for IPSC contests in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ipsc.org.au/ |title=International Practical Shooting Confederation Australia |publisher=Ipsc.org.au |date= |accessdate=2022-03-19}}</ref>  The [[gun barrel|barrel]] must be at least {{cvt|100|mm|2}} long for [[revolver]]s, and {{cvt|120|mm|2}} for [[semi-automatic pistol]]s, unless the pistols are clearly [[International Shooting Sport Federation|ISSF]] target pistols.
:Centrefire handguns with a caliber greater than .45 are considered restricted firearms, whose ownership require a Category R/E Licence (see below).

;Category R/E: Restricted weapons include [[military weapons]] such as [[machine gun]]s, [[shoulder-launched missile weapon|rocket launchers]], [[automatic rifle|full automatic self-loading rifle]]s, [[flamethrower]]s and [[anti-tank gun]]s in some states.

Certain [[Antique firearms#Australia|antique firearms]] (generally muzzleloading [[black powder]] [[flintlock]] firearms manufactured before 1 January 1901) can in some states be legally held without a licence.<ref>In ACT: {{cite Legislation AU|ACT|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996|6}}(2)(a); In NSW: {{cite Legislation AU|NSW|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996|6A}}(1); In Qld: {{cite Legislation AU|Qld|act|wa1990107/sch2.html|Weapons Act 1990}} Schedule 2; In SA: for definition of 'antique firearm', see {{cite Legislation AU|SA|act|fa2015102|Firearms Act 2015|5}}, for exemption, see: {{cite Legislation AU|SA|reg|fr2017211|Firearms Regulations 2017|44}}</ref> In other states they are subject to the same requirements as modern firearms.<ref>In Vic: definition of an 'antique firearm', see {{cite Legislation AU|Vic|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996}} section 3, for licensing, see sections 22–23; In Tas: {{cite Legislation AU|Tas|act|fa1996102|Firearms Act 1996|28}}(1); In WA:{{cite Legislation AU|WA|act|fa1973102|Firearms Act 1973|16}}(1)(b).</ref>

In certain states,{{which?|reason=in which Australian states does this dubious "law" apply?|date=February 2024}} firearms that "substantially duplicates [[service rifle|military-style rifle]]s in design, function or appearance" are subjected to harsher regulations.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sportingshooter.com.au/latest/appearance-law-inconsistencies|title=Appearance Law Inconsistencies – Sporting Shooter|website=www.sportingshooter.com.au|date=9 October 2019 |language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ssaa.org.au/news-resources/politics/clarity-needed-on-confusing-appearance-laws|title=Clarity needed on confusing 'appearance' laws {{!}} Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia (SSAA)|website=ssaa.org.au|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref>  The implication of this, which is unofficially referred to as the "Appearance Law", is that any gun, regardless of the actual mechanical nature of its [[action (firearms)|action]], may be reclassified into Category D or R/E if it is deemed to cosmetically resemble an [[assault rifle]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/australia-bans-bolt-action-rifle-because-of-its-scary-appearance|title=Australia bans bolt action rifle because of its scary 'appearance'|date=2018-03-15|website=Washington Examiner|language=en|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/foi/files/2018/fa180201152-documents-released.pdf|title=Reclassification of Riverman OAF Rifle from Item 2 to 12|access-date=23 March 2020}}</ref>

==Licensing==
The states issue firearms licences upon satisfying the requirement for a genuine reason, such as hunting, sport shooting, pest control, collecting and for farmers and farm workers. Licences must be renewed every 3 or 5 years (or 10 years in the Northern Territory, South Australia & Queensland). Full licence-holders must be at least 18 years of age.

Junior licences in Victoria and New South Wales are available from 12 years of age (Or 11 if in Queensland), this allows the use of firearms for the purpose of receiving instruction in the use of the firearm or engaging in sport or target shooting competitions.<ref>[http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=49495 Victoria Police – Firearms – Victora Eligibility Requirements]</ref><ref>[https://www.qld.gov.au/law/crime-and-police/gun-licences/new-weapons-licence Queensland Police – Firearms – Queensland Eligibility Requirements]</ref>

Licences are prohibited for convicted offenders and those with a history of mental illness.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}} 

In May 2018 Victoria introduced firearm prohibition orders to reduce firearm related-crime by targeting those who want to possess, use or carry firearms for unlawful purposes. The person served with an order must immediately surrender any firearm or firearm related item in their possession and the firearms licence is cancelled.<ref>[https://www.police.vic.gov.au/firearm-prohibition-orders Firearm prohibition orders]</ref>

Persons or companies conducting a business involving the buying, selling or trading of firearms or ammunition must obtain a firearm dealers licence, and firearms repairers must hold a firearms repairer's licence.<ref>[http://www.licence.smallbusiness.wa.gov.au/BusinessLicenceFinder/prod/licence?licence=8280&council=0 Firearm Dealer's Licence]</ref><ref>[https://ablis.business.gov.au/service/vic/firearm-dealers-licence/24069 Firearm Dealer's Licence – Victoria]</ref> These must be renewed annually.{{Citation needed|date=November 2020}}

==Compliance with National Firearms Agreement==
A 2017 study commissioned by [[Gun Control Australia]] claimed that Australian states had significantly weakened gun laws since the National Firearms Agreement was first introduced, with no jurisdiction fully compliant with the Agreement.<ref name="smh-weakened">{{cite news|last1=O'Malley|first1=Nick|title=Australia's tough gun laws have been weakened by the states, new report|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/australias-tough-gun-laws-have-been-weakened-by-the-states-new-report-20171004-gyuc42.html|access-date=13 October 2017|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=5 October 2017}}</ref><ref name="guardian-failed">{{cite news|last1=Wahlquist|first1=Calla|title=Australian gun control audit finds states failed to fully comply with 1996 agreement|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2017/oct/05/gun-control-audit-finds-states-failed-to-fully-comply-with-1996-agreement|access-date=13 October 2017|work=The Guardian|date=4 October 2017}}</ref> For example, many states now allow children to fire guns under strict supervision and the mandatory 28 day cooling-off period required for gun purchases has been relaxed, with no waiting period for purchasers who already own at least one gun.<ref name="smh-weakened" /> New South Wales also allows the limited use of moderators via a permit<ref>{{cite web |title=Silencer |url=https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/permits/prohibited_weapon_permits/silencer |website=NSW Police |access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref> even though they are supposed to be a prohibited weapon.<ref name="guardian-failed" /> No state or territory has outlined a timeframe for achieving full compliance with the National Firearms Agreement.<ref name="abc-nfa2017">{{cite news|last1=Gothe-Snape|first1=Jackson|title=Should kids have 'permits', 'licences' or no guns at all?|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-12/kids-gun-permits-national-firearms-agreement/9033742|access-date=13 October 2017|work=ABC News|date=12 October 2017|language=en-AU}}</ref>

A recent study Commissioned by [[Gun Control Australia]] stated that in the past 20 years, the number of hunters, sporting shooters, and licensed gun owners in Australia has declined, while the total number of firearms has increased.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Browne |first=Bill |date=March 2019 |title=Hunters and collectors Gun use and ownership in Australia |url=https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/P598-Hunters-and-collectors-Web.pdf |website=The Australia Institute}}</ref> Despite extensive gun law reforms following the '''1996 Port Arthur massacre''', the number of privately owned firearms in Australia has increased. As of the latest available data, there are over four million registered firearms nationwide—25% more than in 1996—and nearly one million firearm licenses issued across states and territories. NSW has the most guns, with 1,125,553 registered firearms, followed by Queensland with 1,076,140 registered firearms.<ref name=":1" />

== State-specific Changes ==

=== Queensland developments (2024–2025) ===
In June 2024, Queensland enacted a Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) scheme under the ''Community Safety Act'', empowering police to temporarily prohibit individuals deemed "high‑risk" from possessing, using, or acquiring firearms, and to conduct compliance searches on their person, vehicles, or residence.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Firearm Prohibition Order laws to further enhance community safety |url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101146 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Ministerial Media Statements |language=en}}</ref>

As of July 2025, amendments to the ''Explosives Act 1999'' require electronic verification of firearms licences before any small-arms ammunition sale, whether in-store or online, aiming to enhance regulatory compliance.

A black market gun crisis in Queensland came to light in early 2025, with over 3,000 firearms reported stolen in the previous five years and more than 2,000 still missing. In 2024–25, police revoked 870 firearm licences due to disqualifying factors (e.g., domestic violence, mental health concerns), and launched Operation Whiskey Firestorm—a crackdown on illicit firearm ownership.

3D‑printed firearms are increasingly being found in Queensland, prompting concerns about legal loopholes. Unlike NSW and Tasmania, Queensland currently does not criminalize downloading or producing illicit firearm blueprints, increasing vulnerability to unregistered homemade weapons.

In mid‑2025, the state made "Jack’s Law" permanent, mandating police powers to use handheld scanners (“wanding”) in all public places—without warrants and with only senior officer approval—to detect weapons. Over 100,000 individuals were scanned, resulting in 2,800 charges and over 1,000 weapons seized during the trial period.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Expanded Jack’s Law now in effect |url=https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/103095 |access-date=2025-08-07 |website=Ministerial Media Statements |language=en}}</ref>

==== Western Australia ====

===== Firearms Act Reforms (2024–2025) =====
In December 2024, WA passed sweeping reforms to its firearms legislation, becoming one of the strictest in Australia. Effective 31 March 2025, these include:

* Caps on number of firearms an individual may own (e.g. maximum of five)
* Bans on lever-release and button-release firearms and many lever‑action .22 rifles
* Limitations on magazine capacities: centrefire rifles capped at 10 rounds, turn‑bolt and straight‑pull shotguns limited to 5 rounds

===== Support Measures & Buyback Scheme =====
A voluntary gun buyback scheme ran through August 2024, funded at A$64.3 million. Financial and administrative support measures were introduced to help licensed owners transition to new requirements.

==== New South Wales ====

===== "Right to Hunt" Bill Under Review =====
A proposed bill from the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party seeks to:

* Enshrine a legal "right to hunt"
* Create a new hunting authority
* Introduce a bounty system for feral animals 
Critics—including Port Arthur massacre survivor Walter Mikac—argue it weakens gun law gains. The government has reiterated it will not dilute core restrictions.

== History ==

=== European settlement to 19th century ===
[[File:Eureka stockade battle.jpg|thumb|Firearms were used by European settlers during the [[Australian frontier wars]] and the [[Eureka Rebellion]].]]

Firearms were introduced to Australia with the arrival of the [[First Fleet]] in January of 1788, though other seafarers that visited Australia before settlement also carried firearms. The colony of New South Wales was initially a penal settlement, with the military garrison being armed. Firearms were also used for hunting, protection of persons and crops, in crime and fighting crime, and in many military engagements. From the landing of the First Fleet there was conflict with Aboriginal people over game, access to fenced land, and spearing of livestock. Firearms were used by explorers and settlers to shoot Aboriginals, often without provocation. A number of punitive raids were carried out in a series of local conflicts.

The firearms issued to convicts (for meat hunting) and settlers (for hunting and protection) were stolen and misused, resulting in more controls. In January 1796, Colonel [[David Collins (lieutenant governor)|David Collins]] wrote that "several attempts had been made to ascertain the number of arms in the possession of individuals, as many were feared to be in the hands of those who committed depredations; the crown recalled but of between two and three hundred arms which belonged to the crown, not more than 50 were accounted for".<ref>Christopher Halls 1974, Guns in Australia, Paul Hamlyn Pty Ltd Dee Why NSW</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ol5dAAAAcAAJ&q=david+collins+number+of+arms+in+the+possession+of+individuals|title=On Account of the English Colony in New South Wales, from Its First Settlement in January 1788, to August 1801 ... To which are Added, Some Particulars of New Zealand ... and an Account of a Voyage ... by which the Existence of a Strait Separating Van Diemen's Land from the Continent of New Holland was Ascertained|last=Collins|first=David|date=1804|publisher=Cadell|language=en}}</ref>

European-Australian [[colonist]]s also used firearms in conflict with [[bushranger]]s and armed [[rebellion]]s such as the 1804 [[Castle Hill convict rebellion]] and the 1854 [[Eureka Stockade]].

===20th century===
Gun laws were the responsibility of each colony and, since [[Federation of Australia|Federation]] in 1901, of each state. The Commonwealth does not have constitutional authority over firearms, but it has jurisdiction over customs and defence matters. Federally the external affairs powers can be used to enforce internal control over matters agreed in external treaties.{{citation needed|date=September 2016}}

In New South Wales, handguns were effectively banned after [[World War II]] but the [[1956 Summer Olympics|1956 Melbourne Olympic Games]] sparked a new interest in the sport of pistol shooting and laws were changed to allow the sport to develop.

In some jurisdictions, individuals may also be subject to [[firearm prohibition order]]s (FPOs), which give police additional powers to search and question the individual for firearms or ammunition without a [[warrant (law)|warrant]]. FPOs have been available in [[New South Wales]] since 1973,<ref>[http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/journals/CICrimJust/2017/5.html McElhone, Megan --- "Now They're Extraordinary Powers': Firearms Prohibition Orders and Warrantless Search Powers in New South Wales" &#91;2017&#93; CICrimJust 5; (2017) 28(3) Current Issues in Criminal Justice 329]</ref> and are also used in [[Victoria, Australia|Victoria]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mills |first1=Tammy |title=Terror suspects slapped with strict gun ban |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/terror-suspects-slapped-with-strict-gun-ban-20180605-p4zjmr.html |access-date=5 May 2019 |work=Up to 10 people on Victoria’s terror watch list have been hit with firearm prohibition orders, meaning they can be searched by police at any time without a warrant. |agency=The Age |date=5 June 2018}}</ref>

In October 2016, it was estimated that there were 260,000 unregistered guns in Australia, 250,000 long arms and 10,000 handguns, most of them in the hands of organised crime groups and other criminals.<ref name=ACIC/> There are 3 million registered firearms in Australia.<ref name=ACIC>Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, [https://www.acic.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3726/f/2016/10/illicit_firearms_in_australia_0.pdf?v=1477016769 Illicit firearms in Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324185724/https://www.acic.gov.au/sites/g/files/net3726/f/2016/10/illicit_firearms_in_australia_0.pdf?v=1477016769 |date=24 March 2018 }}</ref>

In March 2017, there were 915,000 registered firearms in New South Wales, 18,967 in the ACT, 298,851 in South Australia, and 126,910 in Tasmania. The other jurisdictions did not make the information public.<ref>{{cite news |first1=Lorna|last1=Knowles|first2=Alison|last2=Branley |title=Police gun data shows extent of private arsenals in suburban Australia |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-11/gun-data-shows-extent-of-private-arsenals-in-suburban-australia/9038350 |archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407072711/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-10-11/gun-data-shows-extent-of-private-arsenals-in-suburban-australia/9038350|url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2019 |quote=Private gun owners are stockpiling arsenals of more than 300 firearms in suburban homes in some parts of the country, according to new data obtained by the Greens. |agency=ABC News |date=11 October 2017}}</ref>

In 2015, there were more private firearms in Australia than there were before the Port Arthur massacre, when 1 million firearms were destroyed.<ref name="theconversation1">{{cite news |last1=Alpers |first1=Philip |title=Australia's gun numbers climb: men who own several buy more than ever before |url=https://theconversation.com/australias-gun-numbers-climb-men-who-own-several-buy-more-than-ever-before-58142 |access-date=5 May 2019 |quote=The proud claim that Australia may have “solved the gun problem” might only be a temporary illusion. In recent years, arms dealers have imported more guns than ever before. And last year we crossed a symbolic threshold: for the first time in 20 years, Australia’s national arsenal of private guns is larger than it was before the Port Arthur massacre. |archive-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407072440/https://theconversation.com/australias-gun-numbers-climb-men-who-own-several-buy-more-than-ever-before-58142 |url-status=live |agency=[[The Conversation (website)|The Conversation]] |date=28 April 2016}}</ref> Since 1988, the proportion of households with a firearm has fallen by 75%.<ref name="theconversation1"/> Some of the increase may be associated with increased wild harvest of kangaroo meat.<!-- There are probably better sources, please add some. --><ref>{{cite web |last1=Ben-Ami |first1=Dror |title=A Shot in the Dark A Report on Kangaroo Harvesting Authors |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/242474237 |website=researchgate.net |access-date=19 January 2021}}</ref> 

There has been an incremental move since the 1970s for police forces in the eight jurisdictions in Australia to routinely carry exposed firearms while on duty. In the 1970s the norm was for police to carry a baton, with only NSW police carrying firearms. Since then, police have been authorised to carry a covered firearm, and more recently to carry an exposed firearm. The shift has taken place without public debate or a proper assessment of the vulnerability of police officers, but has taken place with public acquiescence.<ref>[http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/sarre.pdf Firearms carriage by police in Australia – Policies and issues] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312193041/http://crg.aic.gov.au/reports/sarre.pdf |date=12 March 2018 }}, by Rick Sarre, Associate Professor, University of South Australia, 1996</ref>

===1984–1996 multiple killings===
From 1984 to 1996, multiple killings aroused public concern.  The 1984 [[Milperra massacre]] was a major incident in a series of conflicts between various "[[outlaw motorcycle gang]]s". In 1987, the [[Hoddle Street massacre]] and the [[Queen Street massacre]] took place in [[Melbourne]].  In response, several states required the registration of all guns, and restricted the availability of [[Semi-automatic rifle|self-loading rifle]]s and shotguns.  In the [[Strathfield massacre]] in New South Wales, 1991, two were killed with a knife, and five more with a firearm.  Tasmania passed a law in 1991 for firearm purchasers to obtain a licence, though enforcement was light.  Firearm laws in [[Tasmania]] and [[Queensland]] remained relatively relaxed for longarms.

====Port Arthur massacre====
{{Main|Port Arthur massacre (Australia)}}
The Port Arthur massacre took place in 1996 when the 29 year old gunman [[Martin Bryant]] opened fire on shop owners and tourists with two semi-automatic rifles that left 35 people dead and 23 wounded. This mass killing horrified the Australian government and transformed gun control legislation in Australia.

Prime Minister [[John Howard]] pressured the states to adopt the gun law proposals made in a report of the 1988 National Committee on Violence as the National Firearms Agreement,<ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://aic.gov.au/sites/default/files/publications/proceedings/downloads/12-chappell.pdf
 |title=Prevention of Violent Crime: The Work of the National Committee on Violence
 |publisher=Australian Institute of Criminology
 |author=Duncan Chappell
 |date=2004
 |access-date=2 March 2018}}</ref> resulting in the non-binding [[National Firearms Agreement]] (NFA) between the Commonwealth and the States & Territories as the Constitution of Australia does not give the Commonwealth direct power to enact gun laws. In the face of some state resistance, Howard threatened to hold a nationwide referendum to alter the Constitution of Australia to give the Commonwealth constitutional power over guns.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/opinion/australia-banned-assault-weapons-america-can-too.html|title=I Went After Guns. Obama Can, Too.|work=New York Times|author=John Howard|date=17 January 2013 |access-date=19 February 2018}}</ref> The National Firearms Agreement included heavy restrictions on all semi-automatic rifles and all semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns, and a system of licensing and ownership controls.

The [[Howard government]] held a series of public meetings to explain the proposed changes. At the first meeting, Howard wore a [[bullet-proof vest|bullet-resistant vest]], which was visible under his jacket. Many shooters were critical of this.<ref>{{cite news |last=Guerrera |first=Orietta |date=28 April 2006 |title=Anger lingers among those who lost their firearms |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/anger-lingers-among-those-who-lost-their-firearms/2006/04/27/1145861489398.html | location=Melbourne | work=The Age}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nicholson |title='E's carrying on like some kind of Nazi |newspaper=The Australian |date=17 June 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Dore|first=Christopher|title=The Smoking Guns Buyback|publisher=The Weekend Australian|date=6–27 May 1997}}</ref> Some firearm owners applied to join the [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal Party]] in an attempt to influence the government, but the party barred them from membership.<ref>{{cite news |last=Reardon |first=Dave |newspaper=The West Australian |date=10 June 1996 |title=Progun Liberals Recruit for Party}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Atkins |first=Dennis |work=The Brisbane Courier Mail |date=26 June 1996 |title=Libs on Alert for Pro-Gun Infiltration}}</ref> A court action by 500 shooters seeking admission to membership eventually failed in the [[Supreme Court of South Australia]].<ref>{{cite news |publisher=Border Mail – Albury |date=22 February 1997 |title=Shooter Rejected}}</ref>

[[Section 51(xxxi) of the Constitution of Australia]] requires 'just terms' (financial compensation) for property that is compulsorily acquired, so the federal government introduced the ''Medicare Levy Amendment Act 1996'' to raise the predicted cost of A$500 million through a one-off increase in the [[Medicare levy]]. The 'gun buy back scheme' started on 1 October 1996 and concluded on 30 September 1997. The [[Australian National Audit Office]] reported that the scheme compulsorily acquired more than 640,000 firearms, many of which were semi-automatic rifles and shotguns (restricted as a result of the 1996 legislative changes) or old, antique and dysfunctional firearms.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.anao.gov.au/uploads/documents/1997-98_Audit_Report_25.pdf |publisher=Australian Auditor-General |title=The gun buy back scheme |access-date=2015-10-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160113130203/http://www.anao.gov.au/uploads/documents/1997-98_Audit_Report_25.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2016 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

===Monash University shootings===
{{Main|Monash University shooting}}
In October 2002, a [[Bachelor of Commerce|commerce]] student killed two fellow students at [[Monash University]] in Victoria with pistols he had acquired as a member of a shooting club. The gunman, Huan Yun Xiang, was acquitted of crimes related to the shootings due to [[Insanity defense#Australian law|mental impairment]] but ordered to be detained in [[Thomas Embling Hospital]], a high-security hospital for up to 25 years.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Topsfield|first1=Jewel|title=Monash gunman not guilty|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/06/17/1087245037927.html|access-date=26 December 2015|agency=The Age|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=18 June 2004}}</ref>

As in 1996, the Commonwealth Government, States and Territories agreed on a series of legislative changes known as the National Handgun Control Agreement (2002),<ref>{{cite book|url=https://aic.gov.au/publications/rpp/rpp116/legislative-reforms|title=Firearm trafficking and serious and organised crime gangs|date=29 June 2012|publisher=Australian Institute of Criminology|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407080912/https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/rpp/rpp116|url-status=live|first=Samantha|last=Bricknell|number=116|issn=1836-2079|isbn=978-1-922009-09-8}}</ref> resulting in the National Handgun Buyback Act 2003,<ref>{{Cite Legislation AU|Cth|num_act|nhba2003219|National Handgun Buyback Act 2003}}</ref> which provided Commonwealth funding for compulsory acquisition of handguns not meeting certain technical criteria. These changes were passed by State and Territory parliaments during 2003.{{citation needed|date=April 2024}} Changes included a 10-round [[Magazine (firearm)|magazine]] capacity limit, a calibre limit of not more than .38 inches (9.65&nbsp;mm) (since expanded under certain criteria), a [[gun barrel|barrel]] length limit of not less than 120&nbsp;mm (4.72 inches) for [[semi-automatic pistols]] and 100&nbsp;mm (3.94 inches) for revolvers, and new shooter probation and attendance requirements for handgun target shooters. Whilst handguns for sporting shooters are nominally restricted to .38&nbsp;inches as a maximum calibre, it is possible to obtain an endorsement or special permit allowing the purchase and use of pistols with calibre up to .45&nbsp;inches (11.43&nbsp;mm) to be used for [[Metallic silhouette shooting]] or [[Single Action Shooting]] matches.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/permits/firearms_permits/high_calibre_pistol|title=New South Wales: High Calibre Pistol Permit|access-date=10 June 2019}}</ref>

The 2003 changes contained an option for licensed handgun target shooters to have all handguns (including those not prohibited by the 2003 changes) to be compulsorily acquired in exchange for the voluntary surrender of their Category H (Handgun) licence for a period of five years.<ref name=Hudson>{{cite news| url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/01/31/1075340889254.html|url-access=registration|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407081011/https://www.theage.com.au/national/states-gun-owners-reap-21m-20040201-gdx7yt.html|url-status=live| work=The Age | first=Phillip | last=Hudson| title=State's gun owners reap $21m| date=1 February 2004}}</ref>

===2014 Sydney hostage crisis===
{{Main|2014 Sydney hostage crisis}}
On 15–16 December 2014, gunman [[Man Haron Monis]], held hostage 17 customers and employees of a Lindt chocolate café located at Martin Place in Sydney, Australia. The perpetrator was on bail at the time and had previously been convicted of a range of offences.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jane|last=Norman|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-17/sydney-siege-tony-abbott-joint-commonwealth-nsw-investigation/5973842|title=Sydney siege: Tony Abbott announces urgent review, including looking at Man Haron Monis' access to firearms|work=ABC News|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407082502/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-17/sydney-siege-tony-abbott-joint-commonwealth-nsw-investigation/5973842|url-status=live|date=17 December 2014|access-date=17 December 2014}}</ref> Two of the hostages and the perpetrator died.

In August 2015, NSW Premier [[Mike Baird]] and Police Minister [[Troy Grant]] announced a tightening of laws on bail and illegal firearms, creating a new offence for the possession of a stolen firearm, with a maximum of 14 years imprisonment and establishing an Illegal Firearms Investigation and Reward Scheme. This legislative change also introduced measures to reduce illegal firearms in NSW including a ban on the possession of digital blueprints that enable firearms to be manufactured using 3D printers and milling machines for anyone without an appropriate licence.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Coultan|first1=Mark|title=New firearms restrictions and bail laws for NSW after Martin Place siege|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/state-politics/new-firearms-restrictions-and-bail-laws-for-nsw-after-martin-place-siege/news-story/109b8ce5bd692d0da5e19521aa5f03e5|url-access=subscription|access-date=26 December 2015|quote=NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant said that penalties for firearm offences will be increased, with a new offence of possession of a stolen firearm, which will carry a maximum penalty of 14 years jail. There will also be a ban on possessing blueprints for firearms capable of being used by 3D printers, as well as unlicensed milling machines.|agency=The Australian|publisher=News Corp|date=28 August 2015}}</ref>

=== Adler A110 shotgun recategorisation controversy ===
In 2015, the importation of the Adler A110 lever-action shotgun into Australia generated controversy. The firearm itself could hold up to 7+1 rounds (possible 10+1) in its magazine, a relatively high capacity for a shotgun, and its ability to deliver relatively fast follow-up shots as a lever-action firearm. Most controversially, it was a Category A firearm, making it accessible to nearly all licensed shooters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-10-19/what-is-the-adler-shotgun-five-things-you-need-to-know/7945316|title=What is the Adler shotgun? Five things you need to know|last=Barbour|first=regional affairs reporter Lucy|date=2016-10-19|website=ABC News|language=en-AU|access-date=2020-03-23}}</ref> This resulted in an importation ban on A110 shotguns with a capacity over five rounds (up to five rounds was still permitted for importation). Lever-action shotguns with a magazine capacity over five rounds were later reclassified as Category D firearms.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Farrell|first=Paul|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/19/adler-shotgun-explainer-whats-the-big-deal-about-lever-action-firearms|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407082913/https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/oct/19/adler-shotgun-explainer-whats-the-big-deal-about-lever-action-firearms|url-status=live|title=Adler shotgun explainer: what's the big deal about lever-action firearms?|date=2016-10-19|work=The Guardian|access-date=2020-03-23|language=en-GB|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

===Gun amnesties===
There have been 28 state and territory-based amnesties since Port Arthur. The 1996 national amnesty and ‘buyback’ scheme ran for 12 months from October 1996 to September 1997 as part of the National Firearms Agreement which resulted in the removal of almost 650,000 firearms. There was also a six-month national handgun buyback in 2003 as part of the National Handgun Control Agreement (2002) resulting in the surrender of 68,727 handguns nationally.<ref name="Amnesty2017">{{cite web |archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407065347/https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2017/June/National_Firearms_Amnesty|url-status=live|date=27 June 2017|last1=Brew |first1=Nigel |title=National Firearms Amnesty 2017 |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/FlagPost/2017/June/National_Firearms_Amnesty |website=Parliament of Australia |access-date=9 May 2019}}</ref>

In New South Wales there have been three gun amnesties: in 2001, 2003 and 2009. 63,000 handguns were handed in during the first two amnesties and over 4,323 handguns were handed in during the third amnesty. During the third amnesty 21,615 firearm registrations were received by the Firearms Registry. The surrendered firearms were all destroyed.<ref>{{cite web|title=Gun Amnesty goes Gangbusters |url=https://www.marketingmag.com.au/hubs-c/gunamnestygoesgangbusters/ |website=Marketing Mag|date=23 March 2010 |publisher=Niche Media|access-date=26 December 2015|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407071048/https://www.marketingmag.com.au/news/gun-amnesty-goes-gangbusters/|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:National Firearms Amnesty Print Advertisement.pdf|thumb|upright|Advertising for the 2017 National Firearms Amnesty]]

Between 1 July and 30 September 2017, there was a national firearms amnesty to hand in unregistered or unwanted firearms.<ref name="Keenan">{{cite press release|title=National Firearms Amnesty starts on July 1|author=The Honourable Michael Keenan MP Minister for Justice Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for Counter Terrorism |archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407070154/https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22media/pressrel/5339243%22|url-status=live |url=https://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id:%22media/pressrel/5339243%22|access-date=7 September 2017|date=16 June 2017}}</ref> The amnesty had been approved in March 2017 by the Firearms and Weapons Policy Working Group (FWPWG) to reduce the number of unregistered firearms in Australia following the Lindt Cafe siege in 2014, and the [[2015 Parramatta shooting|2015 shooting]] of an unarmed police civilian finance worker outside the [[New South Wales Police Force]] headquarters in [[Parramatta]], Sydney.<ref>{{cite news |title=National gun amnesty called amid 'deteriorating national security environment' |url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/national-gun-amnesty-called-amid-deteriorating-national-security-environment-20170615-gws7wg.html|url-access=registration|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407070626/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/national-gun-amnesty-called-amid-deteriorating-national-security-environment-20170616-gws7wg.html|url-status=live |access-date=7 September 2017|via=Sydney Morning Herald |work=[[Australian Associated Press|AAP]] |date=16 June 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Terms of Reference for the 2017 National Firearms Amnesty in Victoria|url=http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?media_id=128790|website=Victoria Police|access-date=10 September 2017|date=19 July 2017}}</ref>

The firearms amnesty was the first national amnesty since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.<ref name="Keenan" /> In October 2017 Prime Minister [[Malcolm Turnbull]] said that 51,000 unregistered firearms were surrendered during the three-month amnesty,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/australasia/australian-illegal-guns-amnesty-51000-weapons-firearms-malcolm-turnbull-las-vegas-stephen-paddock-a7986136.html|title=Australians hand over 51,000 firearms in illegal weapons amnesty|website=[[Independent.co.uk]]|date=6 October 2017}}</ref> of the previous estimate of 260,000 unregistered guns.<ref name="Amnesty2017" />

It has been estimated that, as at 2017, there were 3,158,795 [[Estimated number of civilian guns per capita by country|firearms in private hands]] in Australia, of which 414,205 were unregistered. This represents 14.5 firearms per 100 people.<ref name="SmallArmsSurvey2017">The ''[[Small Arms Survey]] 2017'', [https://web.archive.org/web/20180620231909/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/T-Briefing-Papers/SAS-BP-Civilian-Firearms-Numbers.pdf Briefing Paper. Estimating Global Civilian-Held Firearms Numbers]. June 2018 by Aaron Karp. Of [[Small Arms Survey]]. See box 4 on page 8 for detailed explanation of "Computation methods for civilian firearms holdings". See country table in annex PDF: [https://web.archive.org/web/20180629102233/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/fileadmin/docs/Weapons_and_Markets/Tools/Firearms_holdings/SAS-BP-Civilian-held-firearms-annexe.pdf Civilian Firearms Holdings, 2017]. See [http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/weapons-and-markets/tools/global-firearms-holdings.html publications home].</ref>

In July 2021, the Federal Government introduced a permanent gun amnesty.<ref>{{cite news|date=2021-07-01|title=Federal government launches permanent gun amnesty to improve community safety|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-01/permanent-gun-amnesty-for-illegal-weapons-begins/100256814|access-date=2021-07-22|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407064755/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-07-01/permanent-gun-amnesty-for-illegal-weapons-begins/100256814|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Efficacy measurement==
===Trends in related social problems===

Some studies on the effects of Australia's gun laws have suggested that Australia's gun laws have been effective in reducing mass shootings,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chapman |first1=Simon |title=Study shows NRA is wrong about Aussie gun laws |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/study-shows-nra-is-wrong-about-aussie-gun-laws-20180312-p4z41i.html |url-access=registration |archive-date=7 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407064622/https://www.smh.com.au/national/study-shows-nra-is-wrong-about-aussie-gun-laws-20180312-p4z41i.html |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2019 |quote=Over the 18 years prior to 1996, mass shootings occurred here at a rate of about three every four years. Had they continued at this rate then, under our rare events model, the expected number of mass shooting incidents since 1996 would by March 2018 have been 16.3. John Howard’s historic leadership in implementing our gun law reforms therefore seems likely to have averted some 16 mass shootings in this country. |agency=SMH |publisher=Fairfax |date=13 March 2018}}</ref> gun suicides and armed crime,<ref name=meta/> while other studies suggest that the laws have had little effect.<ref name="BuybackEffect">{{cite journal |last=Lee |first=Wang-Sheng |author2=Suardi, Sandy |title=The Australian Firearms Buyback and Its Effect on Gun Deaths|journal=Contemporary Economic Policy |pages=65–79|year=2010|volume=28|issue=1 |doi=10.1111/j.1465-7287.2009.00165.x|citeseerx=10.1.1.507.1298 |s2cid=53520961 }}</ref><ref name="auto1">{{cite journal |last1=McPhedran |first1=Samara |last2= Baker |first2= Jeanine |title= Mass shootings in Australia and New Zealand: A descriptive study of incidence |journal=Justice Policy Journal |year=2011 |ssrn= 2122854 |volume=8 |issue=1 }}</ref> Polling shows strong support for gun legislation in Australia with around 85 to 90% of people wanting the same or greater level of restrictions.<ref name=poll1/><ref name=poll2/><ref name=poll3/><ref name=poll4/> Nevertheless, conservative estimates are that there may be about 260,000 unregistered or prohibited firearms in the community, including assault rifles.<ref name="age180419">{{cite news |url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/we-can-t-afford-to-be-complacent-about-gun-laws-20190416-p51ert.html |title=We can't afford to be complacent about gun laws|url-access=registration|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407063853/https://www.theage.com.au/national/we-can-t-afford-to-be-complacent-about-gun-laws-20190416-p51ert.html|url-status=live|date=16 April 2019|work=[[The Age]]}}</ref>

Between 1991 and 2001, the number of firearm-related deaths in Australia declined by 47%. Suicides committed with firearms accounted for 77% of these deaths, followed by firearms homicide (15%), firearms accidents (5%), firearms deaths resulting from legal intervention and undetermined deaths (2%). The number of firearms suicides was in decline consistently from 1991 to 1998, two years after the introduction of firearm regulation in 1996.<ref name=MazousRushforth>{{cite book|url=https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi269|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407063134/https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi269|url-status=live|title=Firearm related deaths in Australia, 1991–2001|publisher=Australian Institute of Criminology|first1=Jenny |last1=Mouzos|first2=Catherine|last2=Rushforth|issn=0817-8542|date=November 2003|access-date=6 September 2017|number=269|editor-first=Toni |editor-last=Makkai|isbn=0-642-53821-2}}</ref>

Suicide deaths using firearms more than halved in ten years, from 389 deaths in 1995, to 147 deaths in 2005.<ref name="Suicides">{{cite web|first=Brian|last=Pink|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407062554/https://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/952361A2A29BDBB4CA25729D001C09CF/$File/33090_2005.pdf|url-status=live|title=3309.0.55.001 – Suicides: Recent Trends, Australia, 1992 to 2002 |work=[[Australian Bureau of Statistics]] |date=2 December 2003 |url=http://www.ausstats.abs.gov.au/ausstats/subscriber.nsf/0/952361A2A29BDBB4CA25729D001C09CF/$File/33090_2005.pdf }}</ref> This is equal to 7% of all suicides in 2005. Over the same period, suicides by hanging increased by over 52% from 699 in 1995 to 1068 in 2005.<ref name="Suicides" />

The number of guns stolen fell from an average 4,195 per year from 1994 to 2000 to 1,526 in 2006–2007. Long guns are more often stolen opportunistically in home burglaries, but few homes have handguns and a substantial proportion of stolen handguns are taken from security firms and other businesses; only a small proportion, 0.06% of licensed firearms, are stolen in a given year. A small proportion of those firearms are reported to be recovered. About 3% of these stolen weapons are later connected to an actual crime or found in the possession of a person charged with a serious offence.<ref>{{Cite book|author=Bricknell, Samantha |title=Firearm theft in Australia 2006–07 |publisher=© Commonwealth of Australia, [[Australian Institute of Criminology]]  |work=|date=1 December 2008|isbn=978-1-921532-05-4|issn=1836-2095 |url=https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/mr/mr2|url-status=live|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407054114/https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/mr/mr2}}</ref> As of 2011 and 2012, pistols and semi-automatic pistols were traded on the black market for ten to twenty thousand dollars.<ref>{{cite news|title=Gun Runners|url=http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/gun-runners-promo/8518600|access-date=4 March 2018|work=4 Corners|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|date=15 May 2017|language=en-AU}}</ref>

===Research===
{{Summarize section|date=August 2021}}
In 1981, Richard Harding, after reviewing Australian and other data at that time, said that "whatever arguments might be made for the limitation or regulation of the private ownership of firearms, suicide patterns do not constitute one of them.<ref name="Harding">{{Cite book|title = Firearms and Violence in Australian Life|last = Harding |first = Richard|publisher = University of Western Australia Press|year = 1981|isbn = 0-85564-190-8|location = Perth|page = 119}}</ref> " He quoted a 1968 international analysis of 20 developed countries "cultural factors appear to affect suicide rates far more than the availability and use of firearms. Thus, suicide rates would not seem to be readily affected by making firearms less available".<ref name="Newton">{{Cite journal|url = https://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/769NCJRS.pdf |title = Firearms and Violence in American Life|last1 = Newton|first1 = George|date = 1968|journal = Report Submitted to the National Commission on the Causes & Prevention of Violence|access-date = 8 February 2016|last2 = Zimring|first2 = Franklin}}</ref> In 1985, he supported laws to restrict gun ownership in New South Wales, saying contributions to slowing the growth of the Australian gun inventory are to be welcomed.<ref>{{cite report|url=https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/2123/15111/1/POIOC_64_1985.pdf|title=Gun law reform in New South Wales:Better late than never |page=32|last=Harding|first=Richard}}</ref>

In 1997, the Prime Minister, John Howard appointed the Australian Institute of Criminology to monitor the effects of the gun buyback. The institute has published a number of papers reporting trends and statistics around gun ownership and gun crime.<ref>{{Cite journal|author=Mouzos, Jenny |title=The licensing and registration status of firearms used in homicide|journal=Trends & Issues in Crime & Criminal Justice|publisher=[[Australian Institute of Criminology]] |archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407072926/https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi151|url-status=live|editor-first=Adam|editor-last=Graycar|date=11 May 2000|number=151|isbn=978-0-642-24162-7|issn=0817-8542|url=https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi151}}</ref><ref name="Theft">{{Cite journal|number=230|author=Mouzos, Jenny|title=Firearms theft in Australia |journal=Trends & Issues in Crime & Criminal Justice |publisher=[[Australian Institute of Criminology]] |date=7 June 2002|isbn=978-0-642-24265-5|issn=0817-8542|url=https://aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi230|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407073307/https://www.aic.gov.au/publications/tandi/tandi230|editor-first=Adam|editor-last=Graycar|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2002, Jenny Mouzos from the [[Australian Institute of Criminology]] examined the rate of firearm theft in Australian states in territories following the firearm regulation. She found that "the NFA... is having the desired effect: securely stored firearms are proving less vulnerable to theft."<ref name="Theft" />

In 2003, researchers from the [[Monash University Accident Research Centre]] examined firearm deaths and mortality in the years before and after firearm regulation. They concluded that there was "dramatic" reduction in firearm deaths and especially suicides due to "the implementation of strong regulatory reform".<ref name="Ozanne-Smith2004">{{cite journal|last1=Ozanne-Smith|first1=J|title=Firearm related deaths: the impact of regulatory reform|journal=Injury Prevention|volume=10|issue=5|year=2004|pages=280–286|issn=1353-8047|doi=10.1136/ip.2003.004150|pmid=15470007|pmc=1730132}}</ref>

In 2005, [[Don Weatherburn]] of the [[NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research]] stated that the 1996 legislation had little to no effect on violence saying the "laws did not result in any acceleration of the downward trend in gun homicide."<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wainwright |first1=Robert |title=Gun laws fall short in war on crime |url=https://www.smh.com.au/national/gun-laws-fall-short-in-war-on-crime-20051029-gdmcas.html |access-date=12 May 2019 |quote=Gun ownership is rising and there is no definitive evidence that a decade of restrictive firearms laws has done anything to reduce weapon-related crime, according to NSW's top criminal statistician. |agency=SMH |publisher=Fairfax |date=29 October 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Weatherburn |first1=Don |title=The terrorism debate: balance v the bogyman |url=https://www.smh.com.au/opinion/the-terrorism-debate-balance-v-the-bogyman-20051101-gdmcvk.html |access-date=12 May 2019 |quote=The fact is, however, that the introduction of those laws did not result in any acceleration of the downward trend in gun homicide. They may have reduced the risk of mass shootings but we cannot be sure because no one has done the rigorous statistical work required to verify this possibility. |agency=SMH |publisher=Fairfax |date=1 November 2005}}</ref>

Multiple studies have been conducted by Jeanine Baker and Samara McPhedran, researchers with the International Coalition for Women in Shooting and Hunting (WiSH). In 2006 their paper on the 1996 firearms legislation in the ''British Journal of Criminology'' used an [[Autoregressive integrated moving average|ARIMA]] analysis and found little evidence for an impact of the laws on homicide, but did for suicide.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Baker |first=Jeanine |author2=McPhedran, Samara |title=Gun Laws and Sudden Death: Did the Australian Firearms Legislation of 1996 Make a Difference? |journal=British Journal of Criminology |volume=47 |issue=3 |pages=455–469 |date=18 October 2006 |doi=10.1093/bjc/azl084 }}</ref> [[Don Weatherburn]] described the article as "reputable" and "well-conducted" but also stated that "it would be wrong to infer from the study that it does not matter how many guns there are in the community." Simon Chapman stated the article ignored the Mass Shootings issue such as the Port Arthur Massacre.<ref>[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lawreport/stories/2006/1776336.htm# Interview with Damien Carrick], The Law Report, [[ABC Radio National]], 31 October 2006</ref> In 2012, McPhedran and Baker found there was little evidence for any impacts of the gun laws on firearm suicide among people under 35 years of age, and suggested that the significant financial expenditure associated with Australia's firearms method restriction measures may not have had any impact on youth suicide.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McPhedran |first=Samara |author2=Baker, Jeanine |title= Suicide Prevention and Method Restriction: Evaluating the Impact of Limiting Access to Lethal Means among Young Australians |journal=Archives of Suicide Research |pages=135–146 |year=2012 |volume=16 |issue=2 |pmid=22551044 |doi=10.1080/13811118.2012.667330|s2cid=23719508 }}</ref> In 2008 McPhedran compared the incidence of [[mass shooting]]s in Australia and New Zealand. The authors' conclude that "if civilian access to certain types of firearms explained the occurrence of mass shootings in Australia then New Zealand would have continued to experience mass shooting events".<ref name="auto1"/>

In 2006, Weatherburn noted the importance of actively policing illegal firearm trafficking and argued that there was little evidence that the new laws had helped in this regard.<ref>{{cite news|title=Study No Excuse to shoot down the law|author=Don Weatherburn|date=16 October 2006|access-date=2006-11-21|work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|publisher=[[John Fairfax Holdings]]|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/study-no-excuse-to-shoot-down-the-law/2006/10/25/1161749188302.html}}</ref>

A 2006 study coauthored by Simon Chapman concluded: "Australia's 1996 gun law reforms were followed by more than a decade free of fatal mass shootings, and accelerated declines in firearm deaths, particularly suicides. Total homicide rates followed the same pattern. Removing large numbers of rapid-firing firearms from civilians may be an effective way of reducing mass shootings, firearm homicides and firearm suicides."<ref name=mass>{{cite journal |last=Chapman |first=Simon |author2=P Alpers, P |author3=Agho, K |author4=Jones, M |title=Australia's 1996 gun law reforms: faster falls in firearm deaths, firearm suicides, and a decade without mass shootings |journal=Injury Prevention |volume=12 |pages=365–72 |year=2006 |url= |doi=10.1136/ip.2006.013714 |pmid=17170183 |issue=6 |pmc=2704353}}</ref>

In 2007, a [[meta-analysis]] published in the [[Australian Medical Association]]'s ''[[The Medical Journal of Australia]]'' researched nationwide firearm suicides. They said that the analysis was consistent with the hypothesis that "measures to control the availability of firearms... have resulted in a decline in total suicide rates" and recommended further reduction in the availability of lethal means.<ref name=meta>{{cite journal |url=https://www.mja.com.au/system/files/issues/192_08_190410/lar10771_fm.pdf |title=Suicide in Australia: meta-analysis of rates and methods of suicide between 1988 and 2007 |journal=The Medical Journal of Australia |last1=Large |first1=Matthew |last2=Nielssen |first2=Olav}}</ref>

A 2008 study on the effects of the firearm buybacks by Wang-Sheng Lee and Sandy Suardi of [[University of Melbourne]] and [[La Trobe University]] studied the data and concluded "the NFA did not have any large effects on reducing firearm homicide or suicide rates."<ref name="BuybackEffect"/>

In 2009, a study published in the ''Journal of Sociology'' examined the rate of firearm suicide in Queensland. They found that "gun suicides are continuing to decrease in Queensland" and that this is "most likely as a function of ongoing gun controls".<ref name="TaitCarpenter2009">{{cite journal|last1=Tait|first1=Gordon|last2=Carpenter|first2=Belinda|title=Firearm suicide in Queensland|journal=Journal of Sociology|volume=46|issue=1|year=2009|pages=83–98|issn=1440-7833|doi=10.1177/1440783309337673|s2cid=145483362}}</ref>

In 2009, another paper from the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention at Griffith University also studied suicide in Queensland only, concluding: "No significant difference was found in the rate pre/post the introduction of the NFA in Queensland; however, a significant difference was found for Australian data, the quality of which is noticeably less satisfactory."<ref name="KlieveBarnes2008">{{cite journal|last1=Klieve|first1=Helen|last2=Barnes|first2=Michael|last3=De Leo|first3=Diego|title=Controlling firearms use in Australia: has the 1996 gun law reform produced the decrease in rates of suicide with this method?|journal=Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology|volume=44|issue=4|year=2008|pages=285–292|issn=0933-7954|doi=10.1007/s00127-008-0435-9|pmid=18839044|s2cid=22624912}}</ref>

A 2010 study by Christine Neill and [[Andrew Leigh]] found the 1997 gun buyback scheme reduced firearm suicides by 74% while having no effect on non-firearm suicides or substitution of method.<ref name=LeighNeill>{{cite journal |last=Leigh |first=Andrew |author2=Neill, Christine |title=Do Gun Buybacks Save Lives? Evidence from Panel Data |journal=Am Law Econ Rev |pages=462–508 |year=2010 |volume=12 |doi=10.1093/aler/ahq013 |issue=2 |hdl=10419/36943 |s2cid=787141 |hdl-access=free }}</ref>

In 2011, many studies have followed, providing varying results stemming from different methodologies and areas of focus. [[David Hemenway]] and Mary Vriniotis of Harvard University, funded by the [[Joyce Foundation]], summarised the research in 2011 and concluded: “it would have been difficult to imagine more compelling future evidence of a beneficial effect.” They said that a complication in evaluating the effect of the NFA was that gun deaths were falling in the early 1990s. They added that everyone should be pleased with the "immediate, and continuing, reduction" in firearm suicide and firearm homicide following the NFA.<ref>{{cite journal|title=The Australian Gun Buyback |url=https://cdn1.sph.harvard.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1264/2012/10/bulletins_australia_spring_2011.pdf|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502205312/http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/hicrc/files/2013/01/bulletins_australia_spring_2011.pdf |archive-date=2 May 2013|journal=Bulletins |date=Spring 2011|issue= 4|first1=David |last1=Hemenway|first2=Mary|last2=Vriniotis}}</ref>

In a 2013 report from the [[Australian Institute of Criminology]], Samantha Bricknell, Frederic Lemieux and Tim Prenzler compared mass shootings between America and Australia and found the "1996 NFA coincided within the cessation of mass shooting events" in Australia, and that there were reductions in America that were evident during the 1994–2004 US [[Federal Assault Weapons Ban]].<ref name="LemieuxBricknell2015">{{cite journal|last1=Lemieux|first1=Frederic|last2=Bricknell|first2=Samantha|last3=Prenzler|first3=Tim|title=Mass shootings in Australia and the United States, 1981–2013|journal=Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice|volume=1|issue=3|year=2015|pages=131–142|issn=2056-3841|doi=10.1108/JCRPP-05-2015-0013|url=http://www.emeraldgrouppublishing.com/jcrpp.htm|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

A 2014 report stated that approximately "260,000 guns are on the Australian 'grey' or black markets", and discussed the potential problem of people using 3D printers to create guns.  NSW and Victorian police obtained plans to create 3D printed guns and tested to see if they could fire, but the guns exploded during testing.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2014/oct/13/australia-has-250000-illegal-firearms-guns|title=Australia has 260,000 illegal firearms in circulation, inquiry told|first=Bridie|last=Jabour|date=13 October 2014|newspaper=The Guardian}}</ref>

A 2015 journal article in the ''[[International Review of Law and Economics]]'' evaluated the effect of the National Firearms Agreement on overall crime, rather than just firearm deaths like other studies. Using the [[difference in differences]] identification approach, they found that after the NFA, "there were significant decreases in armed robbery and attempted murder relative to sexual assault".<ref name="TaylorLi2015">{{cite journal|last1=Taylor|first1=Benjamin|last2=Li|first2=Jing|title=Do fewer guns lead to less crime? Evidence from Australia|journal=International Review of Law and Economics|volume=42|year=2015|pages=72–78|issn=0144-8188|doi=10.1016/j.irle.2015.01.002|url=https://zenodo.org/record/891229}}</ref>

In 2016, four researchers evaluated the National Firearms Agreement after 20 years in relation to mental health. They said that the "NFA exemplifies how firearms regulation can prevent firearm mortality and injuries."<ref name="DudleyRosen2016">{{cite journal|last1=Dudley|first1=Michael J|last2=Rosen|first2=Alan|last3=Alpers|first3=Philip A|last4=Peters|first4=Rebecca|title=The Port Arthur massacre and the National Firearms Agreement: 20 years on, what are the lessons?|journal=The Medical Journal of Australia|volume=204|issue=10|year=2016|pages=381–383|issn=0025-729X|doi=10.5694/mja16.00293|pmid=27256649|s2cid=6343736}}</ref>

In 2016, a study by [[Adam Lankford]], associate professor of criminal justice, examined the links between public mass shootings and gun availability in various countries. He found that the restrictions in Australia were effective, concluding that "in the wake of these policies, Australia has yet to experience another public mass shooting."<ref name="Lankford2016">{{cite journal|last1=Lankford|first1=Adam|title=Public Mass Shooters and Firearms: A Cross-National Study of 171 Countries|journal=Violence and Victims|volume=31|issue=2|year=2016|pages=187–199|issn=0886-6708|doi=10.1891/0886-6708.VV-D-15-00093|pmid=26822013|s2cid=207266615}}</ref>

A 2017 oral presentation published in ''[[Injury Prevention]]'' examined the effect of the NFA on overall firearm mortality. They found that the NFA decreased firearm deaths by 61% and concluded that "Australian firearm regulations indeed contributed to a decline in firearm mortality."<ref name="AndreyevaUkert2017">{{cite journal|last1=Andreyeva|first1=Elena|last2=Ukert|first2=Benjamin|title=11 Do firearm regulations work? evidence from the australian national firearms agreement |journal=Injury Prevention |year=2017|pages=A4.2–A4|doi=10.1136/injuryprev-2017-042560.11|s2cid=80334400}}</ref>  After this study, these researchers were reported in the Journal of Experimental Criminology in connection with another study with Charles Branas at Columbia University which concluded; "Current evidence showing decreases in firearm mortality after the 1996 Australian national firearm law relies on an empirical model that may have limited ability to identify the true effects of the law."<ref>{{cite journal|title=Time series robustness checks to test the effects of the 1996 Australian firearm law on cause-specific mortality|first1=Benjamin|last1=Ukert|first2=Elena|last2=Andreyeva|first3=Charles C.|last3=Branas|date=29 October 2017|journal=Journal of Experimental Criminology|volume = 14|issue=2|pages=141–154|doi=10.1007/s11292-017-9313-3|s2cid=149097193}}</ref>

In January 2025, a report by [[the Australia Institute]] found that on average, firearm license holders in Australia own more than four guns, with some individuals possessing significantly higher numbers, including two in suburban Sydney who each own over 300 firearms.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 January 2025 |title=Australia's Gun Ownership Scorecard: A Growing Problem in Need of Reform |url=https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/australias-gun-ownership-scorecard-a-growing-problem-in-need-of-reform/ |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The Australia Institute}}</ref> Surveys indicate that three in four Australians support limits on individual firearm ownership. A report on the issue recommends strengthening gun regulations nationwide, addressing emerging concerns such as 3D-printed firearms. Detailed firearm data and jurisdictional breakdowns are available in Gun Control in Australia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last1=Chollet |first1=Olivia |last2=Gottschalk |first2=Adam |last3=Clarke |first3=Vivian |last4=Grundy |first4=Alice |date=29 January 2025 |title=Gun control in Australia An update on firearms data and policies |url=https://australiainstitute.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/P1606-Gun-control-in-Australia-report-WEB.pdf |access-date=24 February 2025 |website=The Australia Institute}}</ref>

==Influences on firearms policy==
===Federal government===
Until 1996, the Australian federal government had little role in firearms law. Following the [[Port Arthur massacre (Australia)|Port Arthur massacre]], the [[Howard government]] (1996–2007), with strong media and public support, introduced uniform gun laws with the cooperation of all the states, brought about through threats to Commonwealth funding arrangements. Then Prime Minister [[John Howard]] frequently referred to the [[United States]] to explain his opposition to civilian firearms ownership and usage in Australia, stating that he did not want Australia to go "down the American path".<ref>[http://www.guncite.com/LATimesASW/weapon4a.htm Los Angeles Times Special Report] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060325081644/http://www.guncite.com/LATimesASW/weapon4a.htm |date=25 March 2006 }} ''Australia's Answer to Carnage: a Strict Law'', Jeff Brazil and Steve Berry, 27 August 1997.</ref><ref>[http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/1998/3awmitch.htm Transcript Of The Prime Minister The Honourable John Howard MP Radio Interview With Neil Mitchell Radio 3AW, Melbourne] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824132546/http://www.pm.gov.au/news/interviews/1998/3awmitch.htm |date=24 August 2006 }} John Howard radio interview, 20 March 1998.</ref><ref>[http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2002/05/02-05-29.shtml John Howard's address to the Council of Small Business Organisations of Australia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060510042456/http://www.australianpolitics.com/news/2002/05/02-05-29.shtml |date=10 May 2006 }}, Canberra, 28 May 2002.</ref> In one interview on Sydney radio station [[2GB]], Howard said, "We will find any means we can to further restrict them because I hate guns... ordinary citizens should not have weapons. We do not want the American disease imported into Australia."<ref>{{cite news|title=TRANSCRIPT OF THE PRIME MINISTER THE HON JOHN HOWARD MP INTERVIEW WITH PHILIP CLARK, RADIO 2GB|url=https://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/release/transcript-12532|access-date=16 March 2016|work=That is one of the difficulties and we will find any means we can to further restrict them because I hate guns. I don't think people should have guns unless they're police or in the military or in the security industry. There is no earthly reason for people to have... ordinary citizens should not have weapons. We do not want the American disease imported into Australia.|agency=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|publisher=Australian Government|date=17 April 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321215717/https://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/release/transcript-12532|archive-date=21 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 1995 Howard, as opposition leader, had expressed a desire to introduce restrictive gun laws.<ref>{{cite news|title=The Role of Government: John Howard 1995 Headland Speech|url=http://australianpolitics.com/1995/06/06/john-howard-headland-speech-role-of-govt.html|access-date=16 March 2016|quote=Let me say that in the ebbing and flowing debate on the availability of weapons, I am firmly on the side of those who believe that it would be a cardinal tragedy if Australia did not learn the bitter lessons of the United States regarding guns. I have no doubt that the horrific homicide level in the United States is directly related to the plentiful supply of guns. How else does one explain the simple fact that in the United States the murder rate is 10 per 100,000, against one per 100,000 in England and Wales and 2.0 in Australia. Whilst making proper allowance for legitimate sporting and recreational activities and the proper needs of our rural community, every effort should be made to limit the carrying of guns in Australia.|publisher=australianpolitics.com|date=6 June 1995}}</ref>

In his autobiography ''[[Lazarus Rising: A Personal and Political Autobiography]]'', Howard expressed his support for the anti-gun cause and his desire to introduce restrictive gun laws long before he became prime minister.  In a television interview shortly before the 10th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre, he reaffirmed his stance, "I did not want Australia to go down the American path. There are some things about America I admire and there are some things I don't. And one of the things I don't admire about America is their... slavish love of guns. They're evil."  During the same television interview, Howard also stated that he saw the outpouring of grief in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre as "an opportunity to grab the moment and think about a fundamental change to gun laws in this country".<ref>{{cite news|title=Interview with Karl Stefanovic Today Show, Channel Nine|url=https://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/release/transcript-22147|access-date=16 March 2016|work=Oh I recall that very vividly. I recall the extraordinary outpouring of amazement and grief in the country and I knew out of that there was an opportunity to grab the moment and to bring about a fundamental change in gun laws in this country. I did not want Australia to go down the American path. There are some things about America I admire, there are some things I don't and one of the things I don't admire about America is an almost drooling, slavish love of guns. I think they're evil.|agency=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|publisher=Australian Government|date=1 March 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321153822/https://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/release/transcript-22147|archive-date=21 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The National Firearms Agreement has had continuing support from both Labor and Coalition governments.<ref>{{cite journal |publisher=SSAA National |title=Australian Labor Party statement |journal=Capital News |date=November 2007 |url=http://www.ssaa.org.au/capital-news/2007/2007-11_asj-australian-labor-party-statement.html |access-date=6 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090921080908/http://www.ssaa.org.au/capital-news/2007/2007-11_asj-australian-labor-party-statement.html |archive-date=21 September 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=SSAA National |title=Australian Labor Party statement |date=August 2010 |url=http://www.ssaa.org.au/capital-news/2010/2010-08-05_australian-labor-party-election-statement.html |access-date=10 August 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128173136/http://ssaa.org.au/capital-news/2010/2010-08-05_australian-labor-party-election-statement.html |archive-date=28 November 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In March 2018, [[Victorian Police]] were set to be armed with military-style [[semi-automatic rifle]]s to combat terrorism and the increase in gun-related crime.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/victoria-police-to-get-military-style-semi-automatic-guns-20180328-p4z6rw.html|title=Victoria Police to get military-style semi-automatic guns|last1=Tomazin|first1=Farrah|date=28 March 2018|work=The Age|access-date=10 June 2018|publisher=Fairfax Media|last2=Houston|first2=Cameron}}</ref>

=== Political parties ===
The [[Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party]] is a political party that started in [[New South Wales]] claims to be "the voice of hunters, shooters, fishers, rural and regional Australia and independent thinking Australians everywhere. Advocating for the politically incorrect, a voice of reason, science and conservation".<ref>[http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/about-us Shooters Party website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131017123456/http://www.shootersandfishers.org.au/about-us |date=17 October 2013 }}. Accessed 12 October 2013.</ref> Its founder, John Tingle, served as an elected member of the [[New South Wales Legislative Council]] from 1995 until he retired in late 2006. {{As of|2019|June|df=}}, the party holds two seats in the NSW Legislative Council and three seats in the Legislative Assembly.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/pages/all-members.aspx?house=both&tab=filter&party=shooters,%20fishers%20and%20farmers%20party|title=Members of NSW Parliament: Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party|website=NSW Parliament|access-date=10 June 2019|df=dmy}}</ref> The party holds one seat in the [[Western Australian Legislative Council]], having won the seat at the [[2013 Western Australian state election]]. The party also holds one seat in the [[Victorian Legislative Council]], having won the seat at the [[2018 Victorian state election]].

A number of minor political parties such as the [[Libertarian Party (Australia)|Libertarian Party]], [[Australian Country Party (2004)|Country Alliance]] and [[Katter's Australian Party]] (represented in the House of Representatives by [[Bob Katter]], who is the father-in-law of Robert Nioa, the CEO of Australia's largest private firearm supplier NIOA)<ref>{{cite web|title=Issues: Firearm Policy|url=http://www.ausparty.org.au/issues.html|access-date=31 August 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120826235136/http://www.ausparty.org.au/issues.html|archive-date=26 August 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> have platforms advocating lawful civilian ownership of firearms.

The [[One Nation (Australia)|One Nation Party]] in 1997{{ndash}}98 briefly gained national prominence and had strong support from shooters. In March 2019, One Nation was the subject of a two-part [[Al Jazeera Media Network|Al Jazeera]] documentary series alleging that the party was soliciting financial assistance from the [[National Rifle Association of America]] and [[Koch Industries]] in order to change Australian gun control laws.<ref>{{cite news |title=Australian gun laws: One Nation party 'sought NRA money' in US |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-47701467 |website=[[BBC News]] |access-date=19 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190326054054/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-australia-47701467 |archive-date=26 March 2019 |language=English |date=26 March 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Al Jazeera used an undercover reporter posing as a gun rights advocate.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Charley |first1=Peter |title=How to sell a massacre: NRA's playbook revealed |archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407071344/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/3/26/how-to-sell-a-massacre-nras-playbook-revealed|url-status=live|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/sell-massacre-nra-playbook-revealed-190325111828105.html |access-date=28 March 2019 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |date=26 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Charley |first1=Peter |title=Australia's One Nation offered 'change to voting system' for cash |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/03/australia-nation-offered-change-voting-system-cash-190327170846167.html |access-date=28 March 2019 |publisher=[[Al Jazeera English|Al Jazeera]] |date=28 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="Guardian 27 March 2019">{{cite news |last1=Murphy |first1=Katharine |last2=Karp |first2=Paul |title=Pauline Hanson to take action over James Ashby and Steve Dickson – but not yet |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/mar/27/pauline-hanson-to-take-action-over-james-ashby-and-steve-dickson-but-not-yet |access-date=28 March 2019 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]] |date=27 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="News.com.au 28 March 2019">{{cite news |last1=Wolfe |first1=Natalie |title=One Nation leader Pauline Hanson exposed by hidden camera |url=https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/one-nation-leader-pauline-hanson-exposed-by-hidden-camera/news-story/c0da722767bf9dc9798b3119622c5f20 |access-date=28 March 2019 |work=[[News.com.au]] |date=28 March 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Clarke |first1=Melissa |title=Powerful US gun lobby encouraged One Nation to weaken Australia's strict gun ownership laws |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-26/nra-encourages-one-nation-to-weaken-australia-gun-laws/10936224 |access-date=28 March 2019 |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=27 March 2019}}</ref> In response, One Nation leader [[Pauline Hanson]] condemned the documentary as a Qatar [[hit piece]] and announced that she had filed a complaint with the [[Australian Security Intelligence Organisation]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hanson |first1=Pauline |title=I was shocked & disgusted with the Al Jazeera hit piece. A Qatari government organisation should not be targeting Australian political parties. This has been referred to ASIO. After the full hit piece has been released I'll make a full statement & take all appropriate action. -PH |url=https://twitter.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/1110717650185785344 |publisher=[[Twitter]] |access-date=28 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328010116/https://twitter.com/PaulineHansonOz/status/1110717650185785344 |archive-date=28 March 2019 |date=26 March 2019}}</ref><ref name="Guardian 27 March 2019" /><ref name="News.com.au 28 March 2019" /> Similar sentiments were echoed by the One Nation officials, [[James Ashby]] and [[Steve Dickson]], who were featured in the documentary.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Crabb |first1=Annabel |title=One Nation's response to NRA sting gives us a rare look into the secretive party |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407065041/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-27/one-nation-nra-sting-look-into-secretive-party/10943936|archive-date=7 April 2024|url-status=live|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-27/one-nation-nra-sting-look-into-secretive-party/10943936 |access-date=28 March 2019 |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=27 March 2019}}</ref> In response to the documentary, the [[Australian Electoral Commission]] said that none of the activities shown in the documentary violated section 326 of the [[Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918]] since they occurred overseas.<ref name="Guardian 27 March 2019" />

===Pro-gun organizations===
Shooting clubs have existed in Australia since the mid-19th century. They are mainly concerned with protecting the viability of [[hunting]], collecting and target [[shooting sports]]. Australian shooters regard their sport as under permanent threat from increasingly restrictive legislation. They argue that they have been made [[scapegoats]] by politicians, the media, and anti-gun activists for the acts of criminals who generally use illegal firearms. Their researchers have found scant evidence that increasing restrictions have improved [[public safety]], despite the high costs and severe regulatory barriers imposed on shooters in Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title= SSAA Research Archive |url= http://www.ssaa.org.au/research-archive.html |access-date= 31 August 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120902015005/http://www.ssaa.org.au/research-archive.html |archive-date= 2 September 2012 |url-status= dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |title=Ten years after the National Firearms Agreement of 1996 Australian Shooter |date=June 2006 |url= http://www.ssaa.org.au/research/2006/2006-06_ten-years-after-national-firearms-agreement.html |access-date= 31 August 2012 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121109084444/http://www.ssaa.org.au/research/2006/2006-06_ten-years-after-national-firearms-agreement.html |archive-date= 9 November 2012 |url-status= dead |journal=Australian Shooter}}</ref>

The largest organisation of firearms owners is the [[Sporting Shooters Association of Australia]] (SSAA) which was established in 1948, and as at 2015 had 175,000 members.<ref>{{cite journal |publisher=SSAA National |title=SSAA National membership figures |journal=About Us |date=October 2013 |url=http://www.ssaa.org.au/about-us.html|access-date=12 October 2013}}</ref> SSAA state branches lobby on local issues, while SSAA National addresses federal legislation and international issues. SSAA National has non-government organisation (NGO) status at the [[United Nations]] and is a founding member of [http://www.wfsa.net The World Forum on the Future of Sport Shooting Activities] (WFSA), which also has NGO status. SSAA National has a number of people working in research and lobbying roles. In 2008, they appointed journalist and media manager Tim Bannister as federal parliamentary lobbyist.<ref>{{cite journal |journal=SSAA National |title=Capital News |date=June 2008 |url=http://www.ssaa.org.au/capital-news.html |access-date=6 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628192852/http://www.ssaa.org.au/capital-news.html |archive-date=28 June 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref> 
SSAA argues that there is no evidence that gun control restrictions in 1987, 1996 and 2002 had any impact on the already established trends.<ref>[http://www.ssaa.org.au/research/2005/2005-07-04_trouble-in-paradise-goroka.pdf Trouble in Paradise] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090927034746/http://www.ssaa.org.au/research/2005/2005-07-04_trouble-in-paradise-goroka.pdf |date=27 September 2009 }}, SSAA presentation at Goroka Gun Summit, 2005</ref><ref>[http://www.ssaa.org.au/press-releases/2004-11-04_the-impact-gun-control-laws-called-into-question.html The impact of gun-control laws called into question] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090923040019/http://www.ssaa.org.au/press-releases/2004-11-04_the-impact-gun-control-laws-called-into-question.html |date=23 September 2009 }}, SSAA media release, November 2004</ref> Also, responding to Neill and Leigh, SSAA said that 93% of people replaced their seized firearms with at least one, to replace their surrendered firearms.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ssaa.org.au/press-releases/2010-08-31_prevention-not-gun-buy-backs-key-to-suicide-reduction.html |title=Prevention, not gun buy-backs, key to suicide reduction |publisher=Sporting Shooters Association of Australia|access-date=2010-09-01 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101128075207/http://ssaa.org.au/press-releases/2010-08-31_prevention-not-gun-buy-backs-key-to-suicide-reduction.html |archive-date=28 November 2010 |df=dmy }}</ref>

The Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia (SIFA) was established in 2014 as the "peak body in research, advocacy, education and safety for one of our country’s oldest and most innovative industries" serving to "represent more effectively the social, cultural, economic and environmental impact of the many thousands of Australians who work in the industry and aligned industries like agriculture, tourism, conservation and ethical harvest".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sifa.net.au/about-sifa/objectives//|title=Objectives|date=24 July 2017 |publisher=Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia|access-date=2020-08-11}}</ref>  Its board members are directors from Australia's five largest firearm importers/suppliers — NIOA, Raytrade, Outdoor Sporting Agencies (OSA), [[Winchester Repeating Arms Company|Winchester Australia]] and [[Beretta Holding|Beretta Australia]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10-22/new-era-gun-lobby-to-play-role-in-more-election-campaigns/10395516|title=Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia: Gun lobby 'muscles up' in bid to change post-Port Arthur gun laws|last=Nicholls|first=Sean|publisher=ABC - Four Corners|date=2018-10-22|access-date=2020-08-11}}</ref> During [[2017 Queensland state election]], SIFA contributed to a political campaign called "Flick 'em", aimed at diverting the votes of major parties and electing a [[hung parliament|hung government]] more in favour of relaxing the gun law.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.onenation.org.au/policies/firearms-gun-control/|title=Firearms and Gun Control|publisher=Pauline Hanson's One Nation|access-date=2020-08-11|archive-date=7 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807123318/https://www.onenation.org.au/policies/firearms-gun-control/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=McGowan|first1=Michael|title=Australian gun lobby invests in rightwing parties in push to weaken reforms|url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2018/mar/07/australian-gun-lobby-donations-rightwing-minor-parties-weaken-reforms-control|access-date=7 March 2018|work=[[Guardian Australia]]|date=6 March 2018|language=en}}</ref> SIFA also contributed significantly in the "Not.Happy.Dan" campaign against incumbent [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]n [[Premier of Victoria|state premier]] [[Daniel Andrews]] during the [[2018 Victorian state election]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-27/australian-gun-lobby-as-well-organised-as-nra-report-finds/10940384|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407062058/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-03-27/australian-gun-lobby-as-well-organised-as-nra-report-finds/10940384|url-status=live|title=Australian gun lobby as big and cashed-up as NRA, report finds|last1=Knowles|first1=Lorna|last2=Blucher|first2=Alex|work=ABC Investigations|date=2019-03-27|access-date=2020-08-11}}</ref>

For handguns, one major organisation in Australia is Pistol Australia.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pistol Australia|url=https://pistol.org.au/|publisher=Pistol Australia|access-date=30 January 2016}}</ref> There are several other national bodies, such as [[Field and Game Australia]], the [[National Rifle Association of Australia]], [[IPSC Australia Inc]], the [[Australian Clay Target Association]] and [[Target Rifle Australia]]. These national bodies with their state counterparts concentrate on a range of sporting and political issues ranging from Olympic-type competition through to conservation activities.{{citation needed|date=May 2019}}

===Anti-gun organizations===

The [[National Coalition for Gun Control]] (NCGC) had a high profile in the public debate up to and immediately after the Port Arthur massacre. [[Rebecca Peters]], Roland Browne, [[Simon Chapman (academic)|Simon Chapman]] and Reverend [[Tim Costello]]<ref>{{cite news |first=Phillip|last=Hudson|title=Handgun curbs on the way|date=25 October 2002|newspaper=[[The Age]]|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/10/24/1035416935873.html | location=Melbourne|url-access=registration|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407055508/https://www.theage.com.au/national/handgun-curbs-on-the-way-20021025-gduq4k.html|url-status=live}}</ref> appeared in media reports and authored articles to support their aims.<ref>{{cite news |first=Rebecca |last=Peters |title=Rebecca Peters: Nations disarm as laws tighten |date=28 April 2006 |newspaper=[[The Australian]] |url=http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18950038-7583,00.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060507151917/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,18950038-7583,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=7 May 2006 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> In 1996, the NCGC had received the Australian [[Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission]]'s Community Human Rights award.<ref>{{cite web|title=1996 Human Rights Medal and Awards Winners|url=https://hrawards.humanrights.gov.au/1996-human-rights-medal-and-awards-winners|website=Australian Human Rights Commission|access-date=8 March 2016|date=2013-01-31}}</ref>

In 2003, Samantha Lee as chair of the NCGC was financed by a Churchill Fellowship to publish a paper<ref>{{cite web |author=Lee, Samantha |title=Handguns: Laws, Violence and Crime in Australia |publisher=Churchill Fellowship Research Paper |orig-year=2003 |date=7 December 2004 |url=http://churchilltrust.com.au/Fellows%20Reports/Lee%20Samantha%202003.pdf |access-date=21 September 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050620063440/http://churchilltrust.com.au/Fellows%20Reports/Lee%20Samantha%202003.pdf |archive-date=20 June 2005 |url-status=dead }}</ref> arguing that current handgun legislation is too loose, that police officers who are shooters have a [[conflict of interest]], and that licensed private firearm ownership ''per se'' presents a threat to women and children.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Liverani, Mary Rose|title=Maintaining a watching brief on gun control – Activist adds law studies to her arsenal|journal=Journal of the Law Society of New South Wales|date=July 2005|url=http://www.lawsociety.com.au/JournalSearch/JournalArticle.aspx?ArticleId=45506|access-date=21 September 2005|archive-date=31 August 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060831230209/http://www.lawsociety.com.au/JournalSearch/JournalArticle.aspx?ArticleId=45506|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In a late 2005 press release, Roland Browne as co-chair of the NCGC, advocated further restrictions on handguns.<ref>{{cite news |first=Phillip |last=Coorey |title=Howard's sights set on reducing gun ownership|date=27 April 2006 |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/howard-aims-to-reduce-gun-ownership/2006/04/26/1145861419468.html|url-access=registration|archive-date=7 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407074141/https://www.smh.com.au/national/howards-sights-set-on-reducing-gun-ownership-20060427-gdnfpf.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1624794.htm |title=Call for greater control over hand-guns |date=27 April 2006 |archive-date=13 May 2017|first1=Barney|last1=Porter|first2=Elizabeth|last2=Jackson|first3=Roland |last3=Browne|website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170513041841/http://www.abc.net.au/am/content/2006/s1624794.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

On 26 August 2013, NCGC was incorporated into [[Gun Control Australia]] (GCA) in [[New South Wales]] as an association advocating for stronger gun laws, run by volunteer lawyers, public health academics and social media experts. The organisation is funded by community donations and is not affiliated with any political party. Its Chair is Samantha Lee and Vice President Roland Browne. Both Samantha Lee and Roland Browne are lawyers who have volunteered in the area of gun control for over ten years.

===Public opinion===
In 2015, Essential Research performed a poll regarding the support for Australia's gun laws. The demographic-normalised poll found that 6% of Australians thought the laws were "too strong", 40% thought "about right" and 45% thought "not strong enough".<ref name=poll1>{{cite web|url=http://www.essentialvision.com.au/gun-laws|title=Gun laws|work=The Essential Report Archive |publisher=Essential Research|date=21 July 2015 |last1=Research |first1=Essential }}</ref> Essential Research repeated the poll a year later and found the responses had not changed. It also found these views were consistent regardless of political party voting tendency for Labor, Coalition or Greens voters.<ref name="poll2">{{cite web|url=http://www.essentialvision.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Essential-Report_011124.pdf|title=Gun laws|publisher=Essential Research|date=1 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="poll3">{{cite news|url=https://www.tenterfieldstar.com.au/story/4972408/the-killer-quirk-hiding-in-australias-gun-laws/|url-access=subscription|archive-date=7 April 2024|date=7 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407074650/https://www.tenterfieldstar.com.au/story/4972408/the-killer-quirk-hiding-in-australias-gun-laws/|url-status=live|title=The killer quirk hiding in Australia's gun laws|first1=Nick |last1=O'Malley |first2=Sean |last2=Nicholls|newspaper=Tenterfield Star}}</ref><ref name="poll4">{{cite news|first1=Nick|last1=O'Malley|first2=Sean|last2=Nicholls|title=The killer quirk hiding in Australia's gun laws|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/the-killer-quirk-hiding-in-australias-gun-laws-20171006-gyvmho.html|access-date=10 January 2018|work=Advocacy against the 1996 gun laws puts shooters associations and parties considerably out of step with Australian popular opinion. In November last year a survey by Essential Research found 89 per cent of Australians thought our gun laws were either "about right" or "not strong enough" while just 6 per cent thought they were "too strong".|agency=SMH|publisher=Fairfax Media|date=7 October 2017}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==Notes==
{{Reflist|group=nb}}

== External links ==
* {{cite web|last=Reynolds|first=Christopher|title=Issue Management and the Australian Gun Debate: A review of the media salience and issue management following the Tasmanian massacre of 1996|url=http://www.global-logic.net/issue.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030716154601/http://global-logic.net/issue.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=16 July 2003 |access-date=31 July 2011}}
* [http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/101-120/tandi116.html Australian Institute of Criminology report, 1999] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130425134221/http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/current%20series/tandi/101-120/tandi116.html |date=25 April 2013 }} Firearm-related violence: the impact of the Nationwide Agreement on Firearms

{{Gun laws by country}}{{DEFAULTSORT:Gun laws in Australia}}
[[Category:Firearms law by country|Australia]]
[[Category:Gun politics in Australia|Law]]
[[Category:Law of Australia]]