Victorian coroner recommends mental health guarantee for gun owners

Victorian coroner recommends mental fitness requirement for gun owners Wed 10 Jun 2026 at 1:59pm In short: A coroner has called on the state government to require Victorians to provide medical evidence to prove their suitability to hold a gun licence. At present firearms owners can self-report mental health issues in a system the coroner described as having the "hallmarks of a rubber-stamping process". What's next? The Victorian government is set to adopt a range of recommendations made by a review into firearm laws prompted by the Bondi Beach terror attack. A coroner has recommended Victorians applying for and renewing firearms licences must first "prove mental wellbeing". Warning: This story contains details that some readers may find distressing. The recommendation was made following an inquiry into the death of a gun owner, "AT", who failed to report an extensive history of mental health and substance use issues when renewing his gun licence. AT took his own life in December 2024. Victorian firearms licences last for five years. When applying for or renewing a gun licence the owner must tick a box indicating whether they have been treated in the last five years for mental health, alcohol, or drug-related issues. In his finding published today, Victorian Coroner Simon McGregor said AT's case demonstrated how self-reporting rules left decision-makers unable to adequately assess renewal applications. "The system … unfortunately has the hallmarks of a 'rubber stamping' process, rather than a genuine vetting process around the use and control of dangerous equipment," he said. Hundreds of deaths in a decade According to the Coroners Prevention Unit, Victoria recorded 342 firearms deaths by suicide in the 10 years between 2016 and 2025. At the time of AT's death, the 42-year-old owned two handguns, two rifles and one air rifle. AT had been diagnosed with depression and adjustment disorder and had sought treatment for ketamine misuse. In August 2021 he was admitted to hospital for mental health treatment. AT did not self-report this history when submitting his firearm renewal applications. "Given the manifest omissions in AT's license renewal application under the current system, I make no adverse comment about the individual decision-making which led to the license being renewed," Judge McGregor said. Two months prior to his death in October 2024, AT was allegedly involved in an incident of family violence that resulted in a child protection investigation. Judge McGregor recommended child protection practitioners be granted access to information on firearms licences because firearm ownership could increase the risk of family violence. Review of Victorian firearm laws The Rapid Review of Victoria's Firearm Laws was commissioned by the state government after the Bondi Beach terrorist attack on December 14, in which 15 people were killed. The review recommended the strengthening of renewal requirements, which was accepted by the Victorian government. In order to achieve this, the review suggested consultation should be undertaken to establish a reporting pathway for medical practitioners, including GPs and psychologists, to notify Victoria Police when a licence-holder's health condition may impact their ongoing fitness to hold a licence. But Judge McGregor noted that doctors had no way of knowing a patient had a gun licence unless the information was volunteered. "It would be more appropriate and less resource-intensive to consider placing the onus on firearm licence renewal applicants to provide medical evidence supporting their eligibility as a 'fit and proper person,'" he said. The state government will adopt all but one of the 16 recommendations of the rapid review, deciding to reject calls for the introduction of a cap on the number of firearms a person can own. The state government has been contacted for comment about the coronial recommendation.