The man accused of opening fire at Bondi Beach last month has been charged with a further 19 offences, as the Australian government moves to close legal loopholes in one of the world's strictest firearm regimes. The suspect, a 42-year-old Sydney resident, now faces a total of 27 counts, including attempted murder, aggravated assault, and possession of prohibited weapons. The additional charges, filed by New South Wales police on Tuesday, relate to a cache of firearms and ammunition allegedly found at his home and in a storage unit.
Authorities say the weapons were legally held under a recently expired firearms licence, a gap in enforcement that has prompted calls for legislative reform. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a review of the National Firearms Agreement on Wednesday, vowing to 'eliminate any avenue for misuse' after the Bondi attack left three dead and eight injured. The review will focus on licence renewal procedures, storage requirements, and the monitoring of high-risk individuals.
The Bondi incident, the deadliest mass shooting in Australia since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, has shaken public confidence in the country's gun laws, long held up as a global model. Australia's strict regulations, enacted after Port Arthur, banned semi-automatic rifles and shotguns, required a 'genuine reason' for ownership, and established a national registry. However, critics argue that enforcement has weakened over time, with an estimated 260,000 unregistered firearms still in circulation.
The suspect's initial charges included two counts of murder and four of attempted murder. The new charges allege he illegally modified several firearms and attempted to procure additional components. Police Commissioner Karen Webb said the investigation 'continues to uncover a disturbing pattern of behaviour.
' Legal experts note that the suspect's licence, though expired, was not immediately flagged, allowing him to retain weapons for months. The government's review is expected to recommend automated licence checks, stronger penalties for non-compliance, and increased funding for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's firearms unit. Bondi locals have expressed both grief and anger.
'We thought we were safe,' said shopkeeper David Chen, whose business is a block from the beach. 'Now we realise the system has holes.' The suspect remains in custody, with the next hearing scheduled for 15 July.
If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of life imprisonment without parole. The case has reignited debate on the balance between individual rights and collective security in Australia, a nation that has not experienced a mass shooting of this scale in nearly three decades.
