Major reforms
National Firearms Agreement
10 May 1996
The Australian Government agrees to make gun ownership laws more restrictive in response to the Port Arthur massacre.
The National Firearms Agreement was established in 1996 after a mass-shooting in Port Arthur, Tasmania, where 35 people were killed. The Australian Government, led by Prime Minister John Howard, responded by organising major reforms to gun ownership laws in Australia. The National Firearms Agreement was an agreement between the Australian Government and the state and territory governments to make gun-control laws more restrictive.
Before 1996 there were inconsistent gun laws across the states and territories. The National Firearms Agreement established a uniform set of laws to be put in place across Australia. These laws introduced mandatory licensing, background checks for applicants, and strict rules for firearm storage and use. A ‘buyback’ program for weapons was launched, where Australians could surrender firearms and, in some cases, receive financial compensation for giving them up. This initiative saw over 650,000 firearms surrendered. The Australian Government funded both the administration of the program and the compensation payments at a cost of approximately $304 million.
Although recommended in the National Firearms Agreement in 1996, it wasn't until 2023 that National Cabinet agreed to create a nationwide firearms register.