Former US President Barack Obama says gun laws biggest regret at Melbourne event

Former President Barack Obama has told a Melbourne audience about the “futility” he felt in trying to change US gun laws.

Days after the latest US school shooting, former president Barack Obama has lamented his inability to overhaul gun laws.

Speaking in Melbourne on Wednesday night, Mr Obama said his failure to overcome the United States’ powerful gun lobby was the lowest point in his presidency.

The comments come after the latest US shooting claimed the lives of three children and three adults who were gunned down at an elementary school in Nashville on Monday.

Mr Obama, who served as president between 2009 and 2017, said he was desperate to overhaul gun laws in the wake of the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre.

Obama addressed a Melbourne audience on Wednesday night. Picture: Julian Andrews

“My biggest regret and disappointment in my presidency was that I could not overcome the clout of arms manufacturers, the paranoia and suspicion of certain gun owners, I couldn’t break this strange fixation on guns and weaponry in the United States that is unique among at least economically advanced nations,” he said.

“We tolerate kids routinely being killed. Certainly poor kids, black kids. Latino kids, everything.

“What I realised after Sandy Hook, these were six year olds in a wealthy, white suburb, and it didn’t matter, we couldn’t budge congress.

“There was a deep despair and a sense of maybe there’s a futility here.”

Mr Obama said the only time he ever saw a Secret Service Agent weep while standing on guard was when he met with the families of children killed in Sandy Hook.

“I had just been re-elected, I had enormous political capital, having just won re-election, and I could not budge Congress to get something done.”

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan and Treasurer Tim Pallas were among a crowd of 10,500 who turned out to John Cain Arena for Mr Obama’s one-night speaking event.

Obama arriving in Melbourne. Picture: Aaron Francis

During his 70 minutes on stage Mr Obama also spoke of the rise of China, climate change, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the world economy.

He described the high point of his career as passing the Affordable Care Act, dubbed Obamacare.

“After we passed it, I invited the staff up to the residence, we looked out at Jefferson Monument to the Washington Monument and I said ‘this is why we do what we do’, you don’t get elected to hold office, you get elected to do this, to help people,” he said.

“And then we got drunk! Within limits. I mean, they were with the President, in his house, nobody was on the tables.”

The event was marred by controversy even before Mr Obama took to the stage after senior Wurundjeri elder Aunty Joy Murphy was dumped from the program.

Aunty Joy said she was removed from the proceedings for being “too difficult” after she asked for a support person and wanted to give Mr Obama a gift.

Wurundjeri woman and Melbourne artist Mandy Nicholson performed the welcome to country in Aunty Joy’s place.

She was accompanied by six other women who performed three ceremonial dances before Mr Obama took the stage.

Mr Obama was interviewed on stage by former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop.