Australia gun buyback spurred by Bondi attack to start in November, PM says

Australia is set to implement a nationwide gun buyback scheme starting in November, a direct response to the deadly attack at a Bondi Beach Hanukkah celebration in Sydney last year. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the measures, which aim to curb firearm ownership and enhance public safety.

The gun buyback program will be complemented by stricter checks for gun licenses and a concerted effort to combat hate speech, according to the Prime Minister. These actions are prompted by the December 14, 2025, incident where 15 people were killed by an assailant using powerful, legally obtained firearms. The attack has drawn parallels to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which led to significant reforms in Australia's gun laws.

Australians owned a record 4.1 million firearms last year, with New South Wales alone accounting for over 1.1 million. The state's buyback scheme, scheduled to begin November 2, will offer up to 1,000 Australian dollars ($700) for each handgun or rifle surrendered. "Australians are quite rightly proud of our gun laws, but the fact is there are more guns in Australia today than there were at the time of dealing with the Port Arthur gun buyback," Albanese stated.

Following the Bondi Beach attack, New South Wales has already enacted laws limiting individuals to owning a maximum of four firearms. Authorities have identified the attack as potentially motivated by ISIL (ISIS) ideology, with the surviving suspect, Naveed Akram, facing multiple murder charges. The buyback initiative signifies a renewed effort to tighten gun control measures across the country.

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Australians are quite rightly proud of our gun laws, but the fact is there are more guns in Australia today than there were at the time of dealing with the Port Arthur gun buyback.