Australia to Launch Major Gun Buyback Program Following Sydney Terror Attack

Australia's most populous state will begin a large-scale

Australia's most populous state will begin a large-scale gun buyback initiative in November, marking the first phase of a nationwide response to a deadly shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Sunday.

The program, set to start on November 2, will offer fixed compensation ranging from $450 to $1,000 per firearm for eligible weapons returned in its initial stage. A second phase will provide a valuation process for higher-value firearms, with compensation capped at $10,000 per gun, according to officials.

This initiative follows the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives. The federal government, led by Albanese's center-left coalition, enacted stricter gun-control legislation in January, including the buyback scheme and enhanced firearm regulations. New South Wales had already tightened its state gun laws in December, while the federal government strengthened measures against hate speech and extremism.

The two alleged attackers used legally obtained firearms

The two alleged attackers used legally obtained firearms. Government data shows a record 4.1 million firearms were in the country last year, with over 1.1 million in New South Wales alone.

"We must do everything we can to ensure the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn't happen again. That includes meaningful nationwide gun reform," Albanese stated.

This marks Australia's largest buyback since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, where a gunman killed 35 people, prompting sweeping gun control measures.

"Australians are rightly proud of our gun laws

"Australians are rightly proud of our gun laws, but the fact remains there are more guns in Australia today than at the time of the Port Arthur buyback," Albanese noted.

Under new restrictions, New South Wales generally limits individual firearm ownership to four guns, with exceptions for certain license holders such as primary producers and sport shooters. The state estimates that up to 274,000 registered firearms—about 24% of all registered guns in the state—and approximately 50,000 license holders will be affected by these limits and reclassifications.

"After Bondi, we promised the toughest gun laws in the country, and that's exactly what we delivered," said New South Wales Premier Chris Minns. "The next step is removing guns that are no longer permitted from circulation and permanently off our streets."

Minns emphasized the scale of the effort: "There

Minns emphasized the scale of the effort: "There are potentially hundreds of thousands of firearms affected. We want those guns handed in, compensated for, and safely destroyed. Fewer dangerous guns in our community means a safer New South Wales."

The attack was allegedly carried out by a father and son, Sajid and Naveed Akram, who police believe were inspired by the Islamic State. Sajid was killed by police at the scene, while Naveed faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and committing a terrorist act. A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, was hailed as a hero for disarming one of the gunmen and is still recovering from gunshot wounds.

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke underscored the government's dual approach: "After the tragedy at Bondi, we committed to addressing both motive and method. We've strengthened hate crimes and hate speech laws to the strongest in our history. Today, we continue the proud Australian tradition of sensible gun reform to protect our community from weapons designed only to cause harm."