Port Arthur gun reform was swift. Bondi is proving a different challenge
Thirty years after the Port Arthur massacre, survivor Carolyn Loughton is advocating for stronger gun laws following the Bondi terror attack. While some states like New South Wales and Victoria have moved toward reform, others including Queensland have rejected national proposals. Progress on nationwide gun law reform remains uneven ahead of the July 1 implementation timeline.
- ▪Carolyn Loughton, a Port Arthur survivor, supports Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's proposed gun law reforms following the Bondi shootings.
- ▪The national reforms include a 50/50 funded buyback, firearm ownership caps, reclassification of certain guns, and stricter background checks.
- ▪As of April 29, 2026, only some states have adopted the reforms, with Queensland rejecting the buyback and ownership caps in favor of increased penalties for gun crimes.
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Australia pushed for stronger gun laws in the wake of the Bondi massacre. So where are they all up to?ABy Adam HolmesTopic:Gun ControlWed 29 Apr 2026 at 8:29amWed 29 Apr 2026 at 8:29amWed 29 Apr 2026 at 8:29amPort Arthur survivor Carolyn Loughton is urging Australia to push ahead with the stronger gun laws proposed after last year's Bondi terror attack.. (ABC News: Monty Jacka)abc.net.au/news/proposed-bondi-shooting-gun-law-reform-progress/106616230Link copiedShareShare articleThirty years ago, Carolyn Loughton was shot in the back during the Port Arthur massacre, sustaining injuries that continue to cause her immense and inescapable discomfort."I'm not on a road to recovery," Ms Loughton said."What you see here now is a mirage, a medical mirage, really."Carolyn Loughton says the pain of…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at ABC News (Australia).