"Port Arthur massacre, lone gunman Martin Bryant shot and killed 35 people (including tourists and residents) and injured 21 others. The use of firearms was immediately reviewed, and new gun ownership laws were adopted nationwide, with Tasmania's law one of the strictest in Australia. In April 2006 the Beaconsfield Mine collapse was triggered by a small earthquake. One person was killed and two others were trapped underground for 14 days. The Tasmanian community has for some time been divided over the issue of the proposed Bell Bay Pulp Mill to be built in the Tamar Valley. Proponents argue that jobs"
"on this subject since 1996. The Port Arthur massacre of 1996 horrified the Australian public. The gunman opened fire on shop owners and tourists, killing 35 people and wounding 23. This massacre, kick started Australia’s laws against guns. The Prime Minister at that time, John Howard, proposed a gun law that prevented the public from having all semi-automatic rifles, all semi-automatic and pump-action shotguns, in addition to a tightly restrictive system of licensing and ownership controls. The government also bought back guns from people. In 1996–2003 it was estimated they bought back and destroyed nearly 1 million firearms. By the"
"Australia) for shooting dead convicted drug dealer Frank La Rosa and his wife Kim in an ambush at their Chittering property in June 2008. The longest non-parole period imposed for a single murder is 35 years, being served by Melbourne CBD gunman Christopher Wayne Hudson (Victoria). The longest non-parole period imposed on a woman is 32 years, being served by South Australian Angelika Gavare, who murdered and dismembered pensioner Vonne McGlynn in November 2008 for financial gain, and Victorian Cai Xia Liao, who repeatedly stabbed Mai Mach and her four-year-old grandson Alistair Kwong with gardening shears in a vicious attack."
"Dante Arthurs Dante Wyndham Arthurs (born 8 August 1984) is an Australian murderer, convicted of the murder of Sofia Rodriguez-Urrutia Shu. On 17 November 2007 Arthurs pleaded guilty to the charges of murder and unlawful detention and was convicted in the Supreme Court of Western Australia; he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a non parole period of 13 years. He is currently in detention in Acacia Prison and will become eligible for release in 2019. Many areas of the Western Australian and Australian community debated the re-introduction of the death penalty due to the emotion evoked by Rodriguez-Urrutia Shu's"
"Julian Knight (murderer) Julian Knight (born 4 March 1968) is an Australian mass murderer. On 9 August 1987, he shot dead seven people and injured 19 during a shooting spree in Clifton Hill, Victoria, Australia, in what became known in Australian history as the Hoddle Street massacre. Knight is currently serving seven concurrent sentences of life imprisonment with a non-parole period of 27 years. The judge who sentenced him, Justice George Hampel, stated that there were 'a number of significant mitigatory factors' and 'the fixing of a minimum term in this case is appropriate because of your age and your"
"for gun control, and to the protection of children through social welfare programs."" Walter Mikac Walter Mikac (born 1962) is an Australian pharmacist who became widely known in the aftermath of the Port Arthur massacre, where his wife Nanette Mikac (née Moulton) and daughters, six-year-old Alannah Mikac and three-year-old Madeline Mikac were among 35 people killed by Martin Bryant on 28 April 1996. In the subsequent debate surrounding gun politics in Australia, Mikac became a prominent advocate for tightening gun laws. Today, Walter works as a motivational speaker and is the author of a book called ""To Have And To"
"that the matter is in its early stages of being heard before the High Court of Australia. Craig Minogue Craig Minogue (born 1962) is an Australian prisoner, convicted for the 1986 bombing of the Russell Street Police Headquarters in Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Minogue was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 30 years. In 2012 Mingoue was awarded his PhD in applied ethics, human and social services by La Trobe University. The Russell Street Bombing occurred at proximately 1 pm on 27 March 1986, Easter Thursday. The blast killed 21-year-old Constable Angela Taylor and left 22"
"James Ryan O'Neill James Ryan O'Neill (born Leigh Anthony Bridgart in 1947) is an Australian convicted murderer and suspected serial killer, currently serving a life sentence in Tasmania for a murder he committed in February 1975. Allegations have been made that O'Neill also murdered a number of other children in several Australian states from the mid-1960s whilst he was still a teenager through to the murder that he was imprisoned for in 1975. He is currently Tasmania's longest-serving prisoner for a single offence. He was the subject of a documentary, ""The Fishermen"", which was broadcast on ABC TV in October"
"Gregory Brazel Gregory John 'Bluey' Brazel (born 17 November 1954) is a convicted Australian serial killer, arsonist, and armed robber currently serving three consecutive life sentences for the murders of prostitutes Sharon Taylor and Roslyn Hayward in 1990, and the murder of Mordialloc hardware store owner Mildred Hanmer during an armed robbery in 1982 for which he confessed some eighteen years later. Brazel is often described as one of the most manipulative and violent prisoners in Victoria's prison system, and was estimated to be worth more than A$500,000 in 2000. He will be eligible for parole in 2020. Enlisted in"
"Parole Board and replaced in 2007. The appeal was rejected on 13 December 2012. Paul Steven Haigh Paul Steven Haigh is an Australian serial killer currently serving six sentences of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole for the murder of seven people in the late 1970s. In 1978 (within weeks of being paroled for a string of armed robberies) in separate armed robberies, Haigh shot dead TattsLotto agency worker Evelyn Adams, aged 58, and 45-year-old pizza shop operator and father of two, Bruno Cingolani. In 1979, Haigh began killing people he believed knew too much about his crimes. Haigh"
"and quashed Harris's sentences in relation to the murders of Ford and Galvin, substituting them with life sentences without parole. Justice Wood, Chief Judge at Common Law, noted that """"I am of the view that the criminality of the respondent, and the level of his dangerousness, are such that, notwithstanding the principles there discussed, it is necessary for the Court to intervene"""". Matthew James Harris Matthew James Harris (born 30 June 1968) is an Australian serial killer from Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, currently serving two sentences of life imprisonment plus 40 years' imprisonment without the possibility of parole for"
"Bandali Debs Bandali Michael Debs (born 18 July 1953) is an Australian convicted murderer, currently serving four consecutive terms of life imprisonment plus 27 years for the murder of two Victoria Police officers in August, 1998, and also the 1997 murder of teenager Kristy Harty. Debs was detained at HM Prison Barwon in Victoria. On 12 December 2011 he was convicted of the April 1995 shooting murder of New South Wales prostitute Donna Ann Hicks. He is portrayed by Australian actor Greg Stone in the telemovie """". Debs, from Narre Warren, a south eastern suburb of Melbourne was employed as"
"consecutive life term for the murder. While imprisoned, Debs has undertaken psychology, life skills and computer training and is employed as a prison carpet cleaner. Bandali Debs Bandali Michael Debs (born 18 July 1953) is an Australian convicted murderer, currently serving four consecutive terms of life imprisonment plus 27 years for the murder of two Victoria Police officers in August, 1998, and also the 1997 murder of teenager Kristy Harty. Debs was detained at HM Prison Barwon in Victoria. On 12 December 2011 he was convicted of the April 1995 shooting murder of New South Wales prostitute Donna Ann Hicks."
"clear views on where I wanted to take the country"". In the first week of the new government, Howard sacked six department heads and chose new department heads himself and changes were made across the public service. On 28 April 1996, eight weeks into the new government's term, 35 people were shot dead by a lone gunman in Port Arthur, Tasmania. John Howard led a push to significantly increase restrictions on gun ownership, which divided the cabinet and inflamed some rural voters who were an important part of the Coalition's core constituency. The new ""National Firearms Program Implementation Act 1996"""
"end of 1996, whilst Australia was still reeling from the Port Arthur massacre, the gun law was fully in place. Since then, the number of deaths related to gun-related violence dwindled almost every year. In 1979 six hundred and eighty-five people died due to gun violence, and in 1996 it was five hundred and sixteen. The numbers continue to drop, however they were declining also before the gun law was in place. On the Australia's most mediated gun violence-related incident since Port Arthur, was the 2014 Sydney Hostage Crisis. On 15–16 December 2014, a lone gunman, Man Haron Monis, held"
"the 2015 San Bernardino attack, the 2017 Las Vegas shooting, the 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting, and the 2018 Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Gun expert Dean Hazen and mass murder researcher Dr. Pete Blair think that mass shooters' gun choices have less to do with the AR-15's specific characteristics but rather with familiarity and a copycat effect. Following the use of a Colt AR-15 rifle in the Port Arthur massacre, the worst single-person shooting incident in Australian history, the country enacted the ""National Firearms Agreement"" in 1996, restricting the private ownership of semi-automatic rifles with a capacity of more"
"Craig Minogue Craig Minogue (born 1962) is an Australian prisoner, convicted for the 1986 bombing of the Russell Street Police Headquarters in Russell Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Minogue was sentenced to life imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 30 years. In 2012 Mingoue was awarded his PhD in applied ethics, human and social services by La Trobe University. The Russell Street Bombing occurred at proximately 1 pm on 27 March 1986, Easter Thursday. The blast killed 21-year-old Constable Angela Taylor and left 22 people injured and caused massive damage to the Russell Street Police Headquarters and surrounding buildings, with damage"
"James Autry James David Autry (September 27, 1954 – March 14, 1984) was a convicted murderer in the U.S. state of Texas, executed by lethal injection. Autry had been convicted of shooting 43-year-old Port Arthur convenience store clerk, Shirley Drouet, between the eyes with a .38 caliber pistol on April 20, 1980. He then shot two witnesses in the head, one of whom, Joe Broussard, a Roman Catholic priest, died instantly, while the other, Anthanasios Svarnas, a Greek seaman, survived but was left with permanent brain damage. The crime had been committed with John Alton Sandifer, Autry's roommate. Although no"
"Stephen Port Stephen John Port (born 22 February 1975) is a British convicted serial rapist and serial killer. He is responsible for murdering at least four men and for committing multiple rapes. Port received a life sentence with a whole life order on 25 November 2016, meaning he will not become eligible for parole and is unlikely to ever be released from prison. Police announced they are now investigating at least 58 deaths connected to the use of ""gamma""-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in response to the Port case. Port was born in Southend-on-Sea. When he was a year old, he moved"
"presiding judge as ""one of the bloodiest massacres in Australian history"". The Crown prosecutor, Joe Dickson QC, 'did not contend that a minimum term should not be fixed.' Knight currently resides in the maximum security Port Phillip Prison in Truganina, Victoria near Melbourne and was eligible for parole in 2014. Shortly before Knight became eligible for parole, the Victorian government amended the ""Corrections Act 1986"" (Vic) to prevent the parole board from ordering Knight's release on parole 'unless satisfied, amongst other things, that Mr Knight is in imminent danger of dying or is seriously incapacitated and that, as a result,"
"Michael Kanaan Michael Kanaan (born 23 May 1975) is an Australian triple murderer from Sydney, New South Wales, currently serving three sentences of life imprisonment plus 50 years and 4 months without the possibility of parole, for the murder of three people and other offences, all committed in Sydney between 17 July 1998 and 22 December 1998. In the drama series he was portrayed by actor Ryan Corr. A psychologist's report in 2001 indicated that Kanaan experienced a normal, stable upbringing, that he and his family had a deep devotion to the Christian faith and that he abstained from the"
"counts of murder and one count of attempted murder. Baker was one of the first six inmates of Goulburn Gaol's High Risk Management Unit upon its creation in 2001. Malcolm George Baker Malcolm George Baker (born 13 August 1947) is an Australian spree killer from Terrigal, New South Wales, currently serving six sentences of life imprisonment for the shooting massacre of seven people, including an unborn child, in Terrigal, Bateau Bay and Wyong on the evening of 27 October 1992 (known as the Central Coast massacre). The shootings started at 9:12 p.m. at the Terrigal apartment of his ex-girlfriend Kerry"
"on 5 other offences (20 attempted murders, 3 counts infliction of grievous bodily harm, the infliction of wounds upon a further 8 persons, 4 counts of aggravated assault and 1 count of unlawfully setting fire to property). All sentences are to be served concurrently in Hobart's Risdon Prison where he remains in solitary confinement, and is not permitted any visitors other than his immediate family. His prison papers indicate that he is never to be released, and he continues to serve his term without possibility of parole. This is very rare in Australia, where the majority of murder sentences allow"
"It is located approximately south east of the state capital, Hobart. In 1996 it was the scene of the worst mass murder event in post-colonial Australian history. Port Arthur is located about south east of the state capital, Hobart, on the Tasman Peninsula. The scenic drive from Hobart, via the Tasman Highway to Sorell and the Arthur Highway to Port Arthur, takes around 90 minutes. Transport from Hobart to the site is also available via bus or ferry, and various companies offer day tours from Hobart. At the , Port Arthur had a population of 251. This was down from"
"there"""". O'Neill has never spoken on the subject again. He now denies being in South Australia between 1965 and 1968. Although Davie and McCreadie don't believe he is a prime suspect both admit the possibility that O'Neill was responsible. The South Australian police however interviewed O'Neill and discounted him as a suspect. James Ryan O'Neill James Ryan O'Neill (born Leigh Anthony Bridgart in 1947) is an Australian convicted murderer and suspected serial killer, currently serving a life sentence in Tasmania for a murder he committed in February 1975. Allegations have been made that O'Neill also murdered a number of other"
"not his, but admitted to owning the shotgun that was found with his passport back in his own car near the toll booth. Initially Bryant pleaded not guilty to the 35 murders and did not provide a confession. However, Bryant changed his plea to guilty for a court hearing on 19 November 1996, where he was found guilty of all charges. The judge then ordered that all evidence for the case be sealed. On 22 November, Bryant was sentenced to 35 sentences of life imprisonment for each count of murder and sentenced to 25 years for the remaining 36 charges"
"changed his plea to guilty. That same day, Austin was given three concurrent life sentences. Austin will have to serve a minimum of 20 years, after which time he will be eligible to apply for parole. Phillip Austin Phillip Austin (born in Northampton, England) is a British murderer. During the course of a day in July 2000, Austin killed his wife Claire (aged 31) and their two children, Kieren (aged 8) and Jade (aged 7). In March 2001, Austin was sentenced to three concurrent life sentences. The presiding judge described Austin's family annihilation as ""beyond the bounds of belief."" Claire"
"Western Australia, given that all avenues of appeal had been exhausted. An appeal to the High Court was unsuccessful. He launched another appeal to the Northern Territory criminal court of appeal in 2013. Bradley John Murdoch Bradley John Murdoch (born 19 February 1958) is an Australian criminal serving life imprisonment for the July 2001 murder of English backpacker Peter Falconio in Australia. He will be 74 when eligible for parole in 2032. Murdoch is being held in Darwin Correctional Centre in Darwin, Northern Territory. He has lodged two appeals against his conviction; both were unsuccessful. The High Court of Australia"
"Port Phillip Correctional Centre, at Laverton and HM Prison Barwon in Lara, a northern suburb of Geelong. He has attempted suicide several times while imprisoned. Prison staff describe him as a model prisoner while in custody and ""a monster"" whenever released. Before his first conviction for murder, Dupas had 16 prior convictions involving acts of sexual violence from six court appearances between 27 March 1972 and 11 November 1994. Peter Dupas Peter Norris Dupas (born 6 July 1953) is an Australian serial killer, currently serving three consecutive life sentences for murder. His violent criminal history spans more than three decades,"
"Douglas Crabbe Douglas John Edward Crabbe (born 1947) is an Australian murderer currently imprisoned in Perth for a multiple murder which occurred when he drove his 25-tonne Mack truck into the crowded bar of a motel at the base of Uluru (Ayers Rock) on 18 August 1983. Five people were killed and sixteen seriously injured. Crabbe worked as a truck driver and began driving at the age of 14. In February 1983 Crabbe was arrested and charged for assaulting a car load of youths at a service station near Tennant Creek. The youths were harassing the service station's console operator"
"took place in 1996 when the gunman opened fire on shop owners and tourists with two semi-automatic rifles that left 35 people dead and 23 wounded. This mass killing horrified the Australian public and transformed gun control legislation in Australia. Prime Minister John Howard convinced the states to adopt the gun law proposals made in a report of the 1988 National Committee on Violence as the National Firearms Agreement. The Australian Constitution does not give the Commonwealth power to enact gun laws. In the face of some state resistance, Howard threatened to hold a nationwide referendum to alter the Australian"
"Malcolm George Baker Malcolm George Baker (born 13 August 1947) is an Australian spree killer from Terrigal, New South Wales, currently serving six sentences of life imprisonment for the shooting massacre of seven people, including an unborn child, in Terrigal, Bateau Bay and Wyong on the evening of 27 October 1992 (known as the Central Coast massacre). The shootings started at 9:12 p.m. at the Terrigal apartment of his ex-girlfriend Kerry Gannon and her younger sister Lisa Gannon. Baker used his shotgun to smash the front window. 22-year-old Christopher Gall, a friend of the sisters, was the first person shot,"
"Thomas Bartlett Whitaker Thomas Bartlett ""Bart"" Whitaker (born December 31, 1979) is a former Texas death row inmate who spent nearly 11 years at the Polunsky Unit near Livingston. He was convicted in the December 10, 2003, murders of his mother and brother by hitman Chris Brashear and sentenced to death in March 2007. On February 22, 2018, 45 minutes before the scheduled execution at 6pm, Whitaker had his death sentence commuted to life imprisonment without parole by Governor Greg Abbott, the first time Governor Abbott has done so. Whitaker had employed Brashear and another accomplice, Steven Champagne, the getaway"