New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the state government is open to strengthening gun control laws following a deadly attack at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on Sunday evening that left 15 people dead, according to reports. The incident prompted immediate questions about whether existing firearm regulations are sufficient and what legislative steps, if any, could be taken to reduce the risk of similar attacks in the future. Australia already maintains some of the most restrictive gun laws among Western democracies, largely shaped by reforms enacted after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, and Minns’ remarks signal a renewed focus on whether further changes are possible within that framework.
Minns addressed the issue in a response captured on video and published by Fox News, after a reporter asked whether gun control could be made more stringent. “The short answer is ‘yes,’” Minns said. He added, “It does require legislation, and it means introducing a bill to parliament to — I mean, to be really blunt — make it more difficult to get these horrifying weapons that have no practical use in our community.” His comments suggest that any policy shift would require parliamentary debate and formal amendments to existing law, rather than executive action alone.
The premier expanded on his reasoning by linking firearm access to occupational need. “If you’re not a farmer, if you’re not involved in agriculture, why do you need these massive weapons that put the public in danger and make life dangerous and difficult for New South Wales police,” Minns said. He did not specify whether either of the two attackers legally owned the firearms used in the incident, nor did he outline how proposed changes would address circumstances in which weapons are already obtained lawfully under current regulations.
Authorities have not publicly detailed whether the attackers’ professions or licensing status would have placed them within any agricultural exemption discussed by the premier. Minns also did not provide data on how frequently firearms owned by farmers or others involved in agriculture are misused, or how potential legislative changes would be enforced without affecting existing compliance systems. The investigation into the Bondi Beach attack remains ongoing, and law enforcement officials have not released comprehensive findings about how the weapons were acquired or used.
The episode has reopened broader questions about the balance between public safety, legislative authority, and individual responsibility within Australia’s gun control regime. Any move to tighten access further would involve parliamentary scrutiny, potential impacts on rural communities, and consideration of how additional restrictions would interact with policing and enforcement resources. As officials continue to investigate the attack, Minns’ comments indicate that firearm policy will remain a central topic in the state’s political and public safety discussions.
