Despite significant reforms following the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre, gun ownership in Australia has risen by 25%. This paper identifies inconsistencies in state regulations while highlighting strong public support for stricter controls. 

The paper evaluates each Australian state and territory against six criteria for effective gun control: data transparency, consultation standards, firearm limits, prohibition of firearm use by under-18s, regulation of 3D-printed firearms, and regulation of unlicenced shooting. This analysis reveals that no jurisdiction meets all six criteria, and four (Queensland, South Australia, the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory) all failing to meet any one of the six criteria. 

The authors conclude that to safeguard the Australian public and prevent future tragedies, a unified national approach to both regulation and data collection is essential. This is especially important in light of emerging technologies such as 3D printing.

Key findings

• There are over four million registered firearms in Australia, with an average of 4.4 firearms per license. 
• 70% of Australians believe it should be harder to buy a gun, and 64% think gun laws should be strengthened.
• The National Firearms Agreement (NFA) is inconsistently implemented across states and territories.
• Licensed gun owners are often the perpetrators of mass shootings and other firearm-related violence.
• 3D-printed firearms are an emerging threat, with limited regulation of digital blueprints.
• The discrepancies in firearm regulations across states and territories, coupled with Australia’s porous interstate borders and ease of travel, heightens the risk of dangerous incidents.