Its report estimates that Australia, with a population of 27 million, currently has more than 4 million registered privately-owned firearms – nearly 1 million more than in 1996. This estimate excludes illegal firearms.
The report stated that while the number of licensed guns per capita has fallen – adjusted for population growth, licensed owners now possess a greater number of firearms per person.
“In the last decade, we’ve steadily seen gun numbers increase. The Australian government, (both) federal and state … have been complacent about gun laws,” said Rod Campbell, a research director at the institute.
A major gap is Australia’s failure to complete a national firearms registry, despite commitments nearly 30 years ago, he added. Each state and territory still operates its own registry with limited data-sharing, creating gaps in oversight when firearms move across borders.
Advocates say a centralised system would prevent prohibited individuals from obtaining guns in other states, improve coordination among law enforcement agencies, and ultimately strengthen public safety.
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