In January 2026, the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) released The availability and purchase of digital firearms products among online Australians, the first firearms-focused report since 2021. The investigation responds to the growing availability of privately manufactured illicit, untraceable and unregistered 3D-printed firearms that present a significant emerging safety risk across Australia.
Three-dimensional (3D) printing is the process of creating a solid object from a digitally rendered model. Since the first fully functional 3D-printed firearm was fired in 2013, the design and quality of these weapons have significantly improved and evolved. While it is illegal to manufacture a 3D-printed firearm in Australia, legislation outlawing the possession of digital blueprints for manufacturing 3D-printed firearms varies between Australian states and territories. These weapons can be produced cheaply, are easily concealed, lack serial numbers and can be disassembled to evade detection by screening systems, creating a substantial security challenge.
The report highlights the growing scale of the problem. In 2024, WA Police seized 21 privately made 3D-printed firearms from a home in Perth. In October 2025, joint operations involving federal and state law enforcement agencies resulted in the seizure of 281 privately manufactured and 3D-printed firearms and firearm parts across Australia. This challenge is no longer limited to organised criminal networks; digital files for these weapons are increasingly appearing online and are accessible to everyday internet users.
A national survey of 9,951 Australian adults found that while exposure to digital firearms products is still relatively low, these files are visible and accessible. Around 2.4% of respondents had seen them for sale on the public internet, compared with 0.9% on the darknet. Just over one percent (1.1%) said they or someone they knew had bought or traded these files, with similar proportions reporting transactions on the clear web (0.7%) and the darknet (0.8%). These findings suggest that although digital firearms products appear more often on mainstream websites, the darknet remains a preferred method for acquiring them due to the anonymity and reduced risk of detection it provides.
In the aftermath of the Bondi tragedy and other recent incidents that have deeply affected communities across Australia, there is a renewed national focus on preventing future harm. While the circumstances surrounding each event differ, the AIC’s findings reinforce a broader message: emerging technologies that enable access to dangerous weapons must be matched with equally modern, proactive and preventative safety measures. Strengthening legislation, enhancing online oversight and investing in prevention are essential steps in keeping communities safe.
To find out more, you can access the report and Injury Matters’ position on firearm-related harm below.