🕒 Created · Updated

Anthony Albanese Announces New South Wales Gun Buyback Scheme Following Bondi Beach Terror Attack

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that New South Wales will launch a gun buyback scheme starting November 2 to address the aftermath of the Bondi Beach terror attack. The initiative, jointly funded by the federal government and the state, aims to remove 274,000 firearms from circulation. Owners of eligible handguns, shotguns, and rifles will receive between AUS$450 and AUS$1,000 in compensation during the first phase. A second phase, scheduled for 2027, will target higher-value firearms valued above AUS$3,000, with a cap of AUS$10,000. Premier Chris Minns stated that the goal is to have guns handed in, compensated for, and safely destroyed to ensure a safer community. The scheme follows new gun-control laws that limit individual ownership to four firearms, with exemptions for farmers and sports shooters. The buyback is the largest since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. While some farmers and shooters expressed frustration over the compensation amounts, the administration's move reflects a commitment to meaningful nationwide gun reform to prevent future antisemitic terrorist attacks.

Sources