New South Wales gun buyback to begin November 2, covering up to 274,000 firearms

From the beginning of next year, a separate process will apply to firearms with an indicative market value above A$3,000. Compensation may then reach A$10,000 per firearm.

A flat payment will apply to ammunition surrendered with firearms. Firearms dealers may receive grants of up to A$25,000 and A$500 in licence-fee relief.

Funding and destruction of firearms

Australia’s federal government will handle the destruction of surrendered firearms. The buyback and administration costs will be divided equally between the federal and New South Wales governments.

New South Wales Premier Chris Minns said the authorities wanted the affected firearms surrendered, their owners compensated and the weapons destroyed safely.

Participation varies across Australia

The program will not be implemented throughout Australia, which is organised into states and territories. Most other jurisdictions oppose it or have not committed to taking part.

Queensland and Victoria have rejected the buyback. The Northern Territory has said it will not provide funding for any such program.

After expressing in-principle support in January, South Australia now says it does not plan to amend its firearms laws.

Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory have committed to the national program, although negotiations over funding are continuing.

Western Australia completed its own two-year buyback in January and has said it is willing to participate in a national scheme.

Reform timeline

1. December 14
   A terrorist attack targeting Sydney’s Jewish community at Bondi Beach kills 15 people.
2. December
   New South Wales introduces new firearm acquisition limits.
3. March
   The federal government misses its deadline to reach an agreement with the jurisdictions.
4. April
   An interim report recommends a national gun buyback program.
5. November 2
   The New South Wales program is scheduled to begin.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese presented substantial national firearms-law reform as one of the measures needed to prevent another similar antisemitic terrorist attack.

The agreement with New South Wales comes several months after the federal government missed its March deadline to reach a firearms-reform agreement with the states and territories.

Political opposition

At a community forum held on Saturday afternoon in central New South Wales, One Nation leader Pauline Hanson reiterated her general opposition to any gun buyback program.

One Nation MP Barnaby Joyce described such a program as government intrusion into individual rights and objected to buying back firearms from people who had committed no crime.

15 August 2026 at 12:29

15 August 2026 at 10:21