Archive · 19 Jan 2026
Australia Reports Record Firearms in 2025
The Australian government said there are now more than 4 million guns in the country, which is the highest number ever.
This is a big deal because a few months ago, there was a very sad shooting at Bondi Beach during a Hanukkah celebration that killed 15 people.
The government is now trying to make new laws to take dangerous guns off the streets and make it easier to punish people who spread hate.
They also want to stop antisemitism.
The shooting happened because the people who did it were inspired by a bad group called the Islamic State.
The government is working hard to make sure something like this never happens again.
Australia had a record 4.1 million firearms in 2025, with 1.1 million in New South Wales.
The government is introducing a gun reform bill in response to the December 14 Bondi massacre.
New South Wales passed laws banning private individuals from owning more than four firearms.
The alleged gunmen were inspired by the Islamic State militant group.
The government aims to lower the bar for hate speech prosecutions and tackle antisemitism.
- Who
- Australian government, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke, alleged gunmen inspired by Islamic State
- What
- Record number of firearms in Australia, gun reform bill, Bondi massacre
- When
- December 14 (Bondi shooting), January 18 (government announcement)
- Where
- Australia, New South Wales, Bondi Beach
- Why
- Response to the Bondi massacre and increasing gun violence
- Total firearms in Australia (2025)
- 4,113,735
- Firearms in New South Wales (2025)
- 1,158,654
- Date of Bondi shooting
- December 14
- Victims in Bondi shooting
- 15
- Maximum firearms for private individuals in NSW
- 4 (with exemptions for farmers)
- Inspiration for alleged gunmen
- Islamic State militant group