It's a throwback to the Cold War era of cloak and dagger espionage, when shadowy diplomats tucked weapons into their suits for protection against unknown enemies.
But in 1989 the Hawke Labor government was growing increasingly worried about armed diplomats on Australian soil and sought a way to prohibit them possessing weapons.
The issue was running hot after an ethnic Croatian protester was shot and wounded by a security guard at the Yugoslav consulate in Sydney the year before.
The diplomats and their families were ordered to leave the country after they refused to hand the shooter over to police.
The diplomatic crisis, and similar incidents abroad, prompted the Hawke government to rethink the rules.
Back then diplomats, consular staff and even their families could legally carry guns or store them at embassies.
The Hawke cabinet wanted the policy reversed so only those diplomats registered with official gun clubs could own a firearm for sport, cabinet papers for 1988-1989, released by the National Archives of Australia show.
Anyone who broke the rules could be declared unwelcome in Australia.
Then prime minister Bob Hawke wrote to the states and territories outlining the cabinet's proposal on this "sensitive issue".
"I am confident that you will agree that the new policy will be a positive step towards ensuring the safety of the Australian public and avoiding further incidents like the one at the former Yugoslav Consulate-General," he wrote.
The cabinet anticipated a series of problems implementing the new measures.
For one, the timing was sensitive because they didn't want the new rules introduced just as the Yugoslavs were reopening their consulate in Sydney.
They also expected pushback from more friendly nations, who might claim the ban would detract from their ability to protect their personnel and posts from nefarious individuals.
Cabinet documents made public after 25 years reveal the British - who had already introduced similar rules - warned Australia to expect a backlash from the United States.
The Americans tried "from time to time" to pressure them into letting their staff be armed to protect important individuals, a secret cable between the Australia and British authorities showed.
However, the British confirmed that Margaret Thatcher had endorsed a policy that allowed the bodyguards of US president Ronald Reagan to skirt the rules and carry two weapons during his UK visit.
The Hawke cabinet weighed up these considerations and agreed with the recommendations.
Today it's illegal for members of the diplomatic and consular corps - including guards - to possess, carry or use guns, unless they're shooting for sports at a registered club.
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