CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA
The Australian Government has confirmed it will establish a National Gun Buyback Scheme to purchase surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms in response to Sunday’s antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach.
Australia’s gun laws were last substantially reformed in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy in 1996.
“The deadly terrorist attack at Bondi Beach is a national tragedy which can never be allowed to happen again,” said Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese.
“This national buyback scheme will help get guns off our streets, and help keep all Australians safe.”
The Government confirmed it will introduce legislation to support Scheme funding, and meet the costs on a 50:50 basis, with the states and territories.
Consistent with the approach taken in 1996, the Government propose that states and territories be responsible for the collection, processing and payment to individuals for surrendered firearms.
The Australian Federal Police will be responsible for the destruction of surrendered firearms.
The national gun buyback will support the delivery of the National Cabinet commitment to:
- Limit the number of firearms to be held by any one individual
- Limit open-ended firearms licencing and the types of guns that are legal
- Make Australian citizenship a condition of holding a firearm license
- Accelerate work on standing up the National Firearms Register
- Allow additional use of criminal intelligence to underpin firearms licencing
“Australia led the world in gun control after Port Arthur. A generation later it’s time to update our laws to keep our country safe,” said Home Affairs Minister, Tony Burke.
“We have to address the motivation and the method of these crimes. No one can justify why this household had so many firearms.”
