I wonder if you can give us some of the sensibilities around that.

Well, I think there's probably some political analysts that might have a more informed view about our political environment at the moment.

I think 30 years ago, we've got to remember that John Howard had only been prime minister for 57 days, less than two months.

and so i think that he had a great deal of political capital that he was able to spend on you know an issue that you know really shocked the country so we've got to remember that none you know significant shootings were not uncommon in australia at the time in 1996 there had been many before in the in the years previous but we had a situation that really it clearly shocked the nation and mr howard was able to spend that capital He also had a strong ally in Tim Fisher, who was the leader of the Nationals at the time and who felt strongly about reducing firearm violence in his community.

And so between the two of them, they were able to corral the conservatives I think Labor and at that time the Australian Democrats were eager to support change.

So it was just a politically different environment.

We know today with the rise of One Nation and good, bad or otherwise, there's a loss of trust in the big parties.

Can we talk about the Gun Safety Alliance then, the history of it and how you came to be involved in it?