Heartbreaking letters from dad who lost family in Port Arthur massacre revealed
The heart-rending letters written by a man who lost his family in Australia's worst mass shooting in modern history have been unveiled for the first time.
Walter Mikac's wife Nanette and their two daughters, Alannah and Madeline, were among the 35 people murdered by Martin Bryant during the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania on April 28, 1996.
Nine days after the tragedy, Mikac sent a letter to then-prime minister John Howard.
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Walter Mikac, centre, lost his wife and two children during the Port Arthur massacre in April 1996. Rick Stevens/Sydney Morning Herald
The correspondence between the pair helped usher in some of Australia's toughest gun control reforms.
Today, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese joined Mikac and Howard at the National Museum of Australia in Canberra to mark the museum's acquisition of the letters.
"Powerless and in deep grief, I was compelled to take action," Mikac said of his decision to write to Howard.
"Writing to prime minister John Howard was the logical choice.
"If our gun safety was going to change it had to come from the top.
"These letters demonstrate the power of what one positive decision in a time of trauma and senselessness can achieve."
National Museum director Mathew Trinca said: "We feel a deep sense of responsibility that Mr Mikac has entrusted the National Museum with these letters which reflect his vision for a safer Australia during a time of unimaginable grief."
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Walter Mikac's daughters Madeline, left, and Alannah were murdered during the Port Arthur mass shooting in 1996. Supplied
The event takes place just days after a meeting of police ministers agreed to a proposal for a new National Firearms Register which will be put to the national cabinet next month.
Howard moved to pass major gun reform legislation just 12 days after the Port Arthur shooting.
Against fierce opposition from the gun lobby, his government toughened Australia's gun laws by banning automatic weapons.
The Howard government bought back almost 700,000 guns at a cost of more than $300 million.
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One of the letters sent by Walter Mikac to then-prime minister John Howard after the Port Arthur massacre in 1996. Mikac who lost his wife and two daughters in the shooting called on Howard to introduce tough gun reforms. National Museum of Australia
In 1997, Mikac and a group of volunteers set up the Alannah & Madeline Foundation in honour of his young daughters.
The organisation advocates firearm safety and the protection of children from violence and harm.
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