Using ABS data on underlying cause of death, Jenny Mouzos and Catherine Rushforth found a 47 per cent decrease in firearm related deaths in the period, with a fall in the number of suicides accounting for the largest part of that decrease.

Nine out of 10 of the deaths involved males. Persons under the age of 15 years were least likely to die as a result of a firearm related injury. Males and females who suffered a fatal firearms injury tended to follow a similar age distribution, with persons aged between 24 and 34 years accounting for the largest number of these deaths. The majority of firearm related deaths were committed with a hunting rifle, although there has been an increase in the use of handguns.