Source : Perth Now news
New South Wales will see a gun buyback after a firearm compensation scheme was rejected by Queensland, South Australia, Victorian and the NT governments.
Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns will on Sunday announce the state expects one-quarter of firearms registered in the state will be handed in during the buyback – up to 274,000 weapons.
The buyback comes after the Bondi terror attack of December 2025, and will begin in November. A buyback was one recommendation in the interim report of the anti-Semitism royal commission.
“We must do everything we can to make sure the anti-Semitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn’t happen again,” Mr Albanese said in a statement.
“That includes meaningful nationwide gun reform.”
The federal government will pay for the firearms to be destroyed, while NSW and any other state thatsigns up will split the administration costs with the commonwealth.
The Queensland and Victorian governments said no to a buyback scheme. South Australia initially said it supported a buyback but has since ruled out firearm law changes. The NT says it will not contribute to the cost of a buyback.
The Tasmanian and ACT governments are still negotiating the cost, and WA ran a two-year buyback that finished in January this year.
The scheme in NSW will initially pay out a fixed $450 for an air rifle and up to $1000 for a centre-fire rifle or revolver.
From early 2027, more expensive firearms with a market value of more than $3000 can apply for compensation up to $10,000. Firearms dealers can get a grant up to $25,000 and a licence fee discount of $500.
Bondi gunman Sajid Akram, who was killed by police during the attack, legally owned six firearms, including the ones used in the attack.
His son, Naveed Akram, faces 78 charges including 15 counts of murder. He has not yet been required to enter pleas.
‘Real issue’ ignored
One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has lashed the deal as “crucifying” law-abiding gun owners while failing to address “radical Islam”.
“We’re actually crucifying those legal gun owners here,” she told News24.
“It wasn’t the guns. It was the people behind the guns that are responsible for the Bondi massacre.”
She lamented that some firearms captured were family heirlooms passed down for generations.
“There’s no amount of money that is ever going to replace that,” Senator Hanson said.
She also questioned why taxpayers should foot the bill.
“We’re talking about over a billion dollars.
“So I think it’s wrong to be … heading down this path. The Prime Minister never really
addressed the real issue here, and that was the men who caused the massacre.”
Senator Hanson went on to say the “real issue” was “radical Islam”.
‘Kneejerk and unnecessary’
The federal Nationals will move legislation this week to reverse the gun buyback.
Nationals leader Matt Canavan and the party’s Senate leader, Bridget McKenzie, say the laws were rushed through.
The Nationals’ bill would return firearm laws to where they were before the January law changes, but would keep changes to hate symbols and background check laws.
“This was a kneejerk and unnecessary piece of legislation that was never properly consulted on,” Senator Canavan said.
The Nationals say “almost one million law-abiding” farmers, collectors, target shooters and feral pest control volunteers were being punished.
Senator McKenzie said the interim report from the anti-Semitism royal commission confirmed no agency identified any gap in the pre-existing legal framework that impeded the prevention of, or response to, the Bondi attack.
“The royal commission’s interim finding demolishes the entire premise of Labor’s legislation,” she said.
“The perpetrators should never have had access to a firearm under the laws that already existed.
“How they obtained one is a question for the Royal Commission, not an excuse to punish farmers, sporting shooters and hunters who follow the rules.”
