Australia is moving toward its biggest overhaul of firearms regulation since Port Arthur. For New Zealand, the lessons may be uncomfortable – and unavoidable. _

The Bondi terror attack on Sunday has seen Australian federal, state and territory governments agree to the biggest  overhaul of firearms regulations since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

For New Zealanders, with memories of the horrific 2019 Christchurch terror attacks still vivid, and with domestic gun laws now  being rewritten again, how Australia responds will be of intense interest.

Future terror attacks are always a possibility. The best jurisdictions can do is reduce their risk and scale, while balancing the liberties and freedoms central to liberal democracies.

As Canada did with its  Mass Casualty Commission following a 2020 rampage in Nova Scotia, and New Zealand did with its 2020  Royal Commission into the Christchurch attacks, Australia may now hold a high level inquiry.

This should lead to further recommendations – particularly about security intelligence and the regulation of firearms. New Zealand will watch closely.

Aside from in the United States – where firearms are a right, not a privilege – there is a pattern to what follows a mass shooting.

Laws are reformed and, typically, the type of firearms used are either prohibited or highly regulated. This has been the case........

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