The Queensland government's proposed gun control reforms have stirred significant controversy, with advocates labeling them as 'the weakest in Australia.' Following the Bondi shootings, Premier David Crisafulli and Police Minister Dan Purdie unveiled these changes, which will be introduced to parliament. Key provisions of the reforms include restricting gun licenses to Australian citizens, with exceptions for specific groups such as sporting shooters and primary producers.

Advocates argue that the new laws do not impose stringent enough measures on firearm ownership, as the government opted against enhancing limitations on the number or types of firearms one can own. Critically, the proposed regulations will not affect current gun license holders, meaning that the existing licenses remain valid regardless of the new criteria. Purdie noted that there wouldn’t be a retroactive audit to assess the citizen status of existing license holders, which has raised concerns among gun control proponents who fear the ongoing risks associated with lax regulations.

As these reforms make their way through parliament, the response from various stakeholders highlights the ongoing debate about gun control in Australia, particularly in response to public safety incidents. The resistance from gun control advocates may shape the dialogue around these laws, leading to potential amendments or heightened scrutiny as the government navigates balancing public safety concerns with citizen rights to bear arms.