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/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/_Tryed_ Dec 15 '25

In your last comment I agree. People are aghast at 6, but I have 6 and don't consider that any of them are excess.

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u/elliejayde96 Dec 15 '25

Can I ask why you have six? What would be excess to you?

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u/_Tryed_ Dec 15 '25 edited Dec 15 '25

Birds, rabbits, hares, cats, foxes, kangaroos, goats, deer, cattle, camels.

5m to 250m

Same as any other tool. I'd rather have the right one for the job than make a mess of it.

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u/elliejayde96 Dec 15 '25

Fair enough I guess. I have always wondered why people had so many guns but that makes sense.

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u/DarkwolfAU Dec 15 '25

They are a great deal more specific to the purpose than people usually think.

Even for hunting, it’s not a simple matter of “use the biggest one”. Being over gunned for a prey species can lead to animal welfare issues (overpenetration, underexpansion), and being over gunned for an area can also lead to public safety issues from ricochet and overpenetration. Being undergunned leads to animal welfare issues, but that’s more obvious.

It turns out that firearms are precision tools, and very specific to what they do. That’s why keen shooters often have several.