Australia’s gun laws aren’t as strong as you think

featuring Alice Grundy, Skye Predavec and Ebony Bennett
Prime Minister John Howard announced today that Major General Michael Jeffery is the new Governor General of Australia. Major General Michael Jeffery AC. CVO. NC., was previously the former Governor of West Australia, a position he held between 1993-2000 and is the first Australian born Governor General to have had a full time military career.
AAP Image/Sam Mooy

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Nearly three decades after the Port Arthur massacre, there are more guns than ever before in Australia and there is still no national firearms register.

On this episode of Follow the Money, Alice Grundy and Skye Predavec join Ebony Bennett to discuss how the Howard Government’s brave reforms in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre are falling short of its aims – and what federal, state and territory governments can do to keep Australians safe.

1800RESPECT is the national domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Call 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732, chat online or video call via their website.

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us by Richard Denniss is available for pre-order now via the Australia Institute website.

Guest: Alice Grundy, Research Manager and Managing Editor, the Australia Institute // @alicektg

Guest: Skye Predavec, Anne Kantor Fellow, the Australia Institute // @skyelark

Host: Ebony Bennett, Deputy Director, the Australia Institute // @ebonybennett

Show notes:

Australian gun control: 29 years after Port Arthur by Rod Campbell, Skye Predavec and Alice Grundy, the Australia Institute (May 2025)

Theme music: Pulse and Thrum; additional music by Blue Dot Sessions

We’d love to hear your feedback on this series, so send in your questions, comments or suggestions for future episodes to podcasts@australiainstitute.org.au.

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