Federal government’s national gun buyback scheme faces state opposition after Bondi terror attack
Consensus Summary
The federal government’s push for a national gun buyback scheme, announced after the Bondi terror attack, has stalled due to opposition from half the states and territories. The Albanese government set a March 31 deadline for agreement but faced outright rejection from South Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory, while Victoria delayed its decision pending a police review. Both sources agree the buyback was proposed as the largest since the 1996 Port Arthur reforms, with funding split 50-50 between federal and state governments, though costs remain unspecified. Western Australia and Tasmania have independently completed or initiated buybacks, while critics argue the federal scheme lacks detail and punishes lawful gun owners. States cite funding uncertainty, existing strong laws, or lack of consultation as reasons for non-participation, with some opposition parties framing the buyback as a political distraction. The federal government insists national consistency is vital for effectiveness, while critics highlight the scheme’s uncertainty and potential economic impact on shooting industries.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- The federal government proposed a national gun buyback scheme following the Bondi terror attack in March 2024
- Anthony Albanese set a March 31 deadline for state and territory leaders to agree to the buyback plan by July 2024
- South Australia, Queensland, and the Northern Territory have explicitly rejected the federal buyback proposal
- Western Australia completed its own gun buyback in January 2024, while Tasmania is currently running a buyback scheme
- The federal government’s proposed cost-sharing for the buyback is a 50:50 split with states and territories
- The Howard government’s 1996 Port Arthur buyback destroyed over 650,000 firearms at a cost of $371 million (adjusted to ~$770 million today)
- Victoria has delayed a definitive commitment pending a review by former top police officer Ken Lay
- The federal government argues the reforms were agreed upon by national cabinet after the Bondi attack
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Attorney-General Michelle Rowland stated the buyback was ‘agreed to by national cabinet following the Bondi attack’ and criticized non-participating states to explain their stance to constituents
- Farmers and recreational shooters argue the buyback lacks detail and punishes lawful gun owners for others’ crimes
- Northern Territory Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said the Commonwealth should fully fund the buyback
- South Australia stated it would not tighten any gun laws and holds a quarter of the country’s firearms
- NSW, Queensland, and the Northern Territory have legislated stronger gun laws, while WA completed a buyback and Tasmania is underway
- Federal government spokesperson accused states of ‘standing in the way’ of removing guns from streets
- Shadow Home Affairs Minister Jonno Duniam called the buyback a ‘desperate overreach’ and a distraction from antisemitism/extremism failures
- Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia’s James Walsh said the buyback has caused ‘uncertainty for thousands of law-abiding Australians’ and ‘dismantled livelihoods’
- South Australia’s spokesperson cited ‘rigorous fit-and-proper requirements, time-limited licences, and restrictions on ownership to only citizens and permanent residents’ as reasons for non-participation
- The buyback was announced in the weeks after the Bondi terror attack and remains unclear how costs will be split
- The federal government described the cost as ‘significant’ but no final figure has been released; the buyback was due to end by January 2028
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- NEWSCOMAU states South Australia has not signed up to the buyback and will not tighten laws, while THEGUARDIAN notes South Australia already has ‘some of the strongest firearms laws in the country’
- NEWSCOMAU reports NSW, Queensland, and NT have legislated stronger gun laws, but THEGUARDIAN only mentions NSW as a ‘clear supporter’ without explicitly stating Queensland/NT have strengthened laws
- NEWSCOMAU attributes the 50:50 funding split to the federal government’s proposal, while THEGUARDIAN states ‘no final cost of the plan has been released’ and funding details remain unclear
- THEGUARDIAN claims the Coalition opposed the buyback from the outset, but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this opposition explicitly
- NEWSCOMAU states Victoria holds a quarter of the country’s firearms and has stayed noncommittal, while THEGUARDIAN notes Victoria is awaiting a review by Ken Lay and plans to release a response soon
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