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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Sarah Martin

Australia had the ‘gold standard’ on gun control. The Bondi beach terror attack may force it to confront its surging number of weapons

Police at Bondi beach
Police after the Bondi beach terror attack.
At least 12 people have died, including one alleged gunman.
Photograph: David Gray/AFP/Getty Images

For almost three decades, Australia’s gun laws have been recognised as among the most stringent – and effective – in the world.

After the horror of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre that killed 35 people in Tasmania, Australia’s then conservative government stared down the gun lobby to introduce restrictions that led to a dramatic decrease in the number of guns.

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