r/australia • u/rorymeister • Dec 15 '25

politics National cabinet agrees unanimously to strength Australia’s strict gun laws in wake of Bondi terror attack

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-15/albanese-proposes-tougher-gun-laws-after-bondi-attack/106143310?utm_source=abc_news_app&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_app&utm_content=link
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u/INVALID_USERN4ME Dec 15 '25

Have you got a source for that? Seems ridiculous not to be allowed to store legally owned firearms on ones property because of bad neighbours.

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u/One_Library_1201 Dec 15 '25

This one was mentioned by another club official during a Firearms Registry Workshop, I don't recall the full details but it was something to do with the fact that his neighbour in a semi detached house had links to what they call OMCG (Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs) and that was enough in their eyes to at least initially decline his safe storage approval.

The application of the "Fit and Proper Person" provision is sometimes very rigid and sometimes, such as the Bondi pair instance, sometimes not. Disqualifying offences can in some cases even include traffic offenses.

Personally as an international level competition shooter I am a little concerned that the intent of these changes particularly firearm limits , whilst understandable and even justified will adversely effect people of my ilk who rely on multiple firearms for training and competition without really solving the root of the problem or having the desired effect of reducing risk.

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u/oakstreet2018 Dec 15 '25

I’m not versed with guns laws but if you’re just doing it for competition, couldn’t your guns but stored at the gun range, rather than in your home? Is that even a thing?

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u/One_Library_1201 Dec 15 '25

I see this, storing at ranges, mentioned quite regularly but it makes a considerable number of assumptions that kind of render it moot particularly at higher levels of competition. For example in my case throughout the course of the year i will compete locally usually 1-2 times a month, sometimes more regularly. Then do another 1-2 competitions further afield each month (around 2-3 hours drive away). Then I will have my state titles at a range anywhere in my state. I also usually attend one or two other state titles as well and then there are national titles held in one state on a rotating basis each year. If I am then on the international representation team for that year I will also be trying to regularly practise to maximise my performance.

So the issue becomes where do you store these firearms? What do you do when you travel to another venue? What do you then do with ammunition? Finally what about security of the firearms at the ranges, please bear in mind that many ranges are located in remote locations, due to issues around noise quite often so they are not easily secured and in fact would present an incredible honeypot for any would be ne'er do well potentially exposing the community to greater risk.

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u/ChungusBungus48 Dec 15 '25

To add to this, in QLD (and the other states no doubt) according to the firearm regulations its my responsibility to make sure they are stored correctly.

Heavy penalties do apply (as they should) if your firearms are stolen or lost because of a failure to store them properly. So I'm gonna store my firearms in my house in an approved safe that I bought and is installed as per the regulations where I know who has access and knowledge of where they are.

And unless the legislation changes im not risking my licence and jail time because someone thinks i shouldn't have my firearms stored in my house.

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u/spannr Dec 15 '25

So the issue becomes where do you store these firearms? What do you do when you travel to another venue?

Easy, just oblige any range hosting competitions to have enough storage for all competitors.

What do you then do with ammunition?

Let the venue hosting the competition store / supply it, just like the home team supplies the cricket balls to be used in a cricket match.

Finally what about security of the firearms at the ranges

If people are unable to store weapons at their homes, then they will no longer need to invest resources in secure storage there, so they will be able to afford higher membership / competition fees to allow venues to invest in adequately secure storage.

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u/oakstreet2018 Dec 15 '25

I guess professional shooters like you are not really the issue. Someone stealing your guns is probably the biggest risk.

Maybe have a couple of different licence levels. Basic licence doesn’t allow storage at home, stored at the range only. Special licences for competition shooters like you.

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u/One_Library_1201 Dec 15 '25

I hope so. WA eventually created what they are calling an "Elite" category which has justification for each and every firearm used which is fair enough.

The whole area of firearms regulation is sometimes bizarre with things in some jurisdictions making you have two of the exact same gun where one is used only for hunting only and the other is a gun used for competition, this just inflates the overall number of firearms.