Following the Bondi Beach massacre in December 2025, the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments have reached an agreement to fund a significant federal-state gun buyback program. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen firearms restrictions nationwide and combat anti-Semitism, as agreed upon by the national cabinet.
The New South Wales government had already enacted stricter gun laws in the immediate aftermath of the shootings, which included limitations on gun ownership, reclassification of certain weapons, enhanced background checks, and a reduction of firearms licenses from five years to two. The buyback program is considered the subsequent phase of these reforms.
Compensation will be distributed starting November 2 for firearms that exceed new ownership limits or have been newly reclassified. A flat fee will also be provided for associated ammunition. The scheme aims to facilitate financial assistance for businesses and industries affected by the new regulations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated that "We must do everything we can to make sure the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn't happen again," emphasizing the need for "meaningful nationwide gun reform."
The Commonwealth will cover 50 percent of the administrative costs and fully fund the destruction of surrendered firearms. A fixed price schedule will be implemented for individual license holders to surrender firearms exceeding the new legal limits in exchange for compensation. Eligible businesses and dealers can receive grants of up to $25,000 and a one-time $500 license fee relief over two years.
By early 2027, a compensation pathway will be established for eligible higher-value firearms with an indicative market value exceeding $3,000, capped at $10,000 per firearm. It is estimated that approximately 274,000 registered firearms in New South Wales, representing about 24 percent of the state's total registered guns, and around 50,000 license holders, are impacted by the revised ownership limits.
New South Wales Premier Chris Minns stated, "After Bondi, we promised... we would introduce the toughest gun laws in the country and that's exactly what we did. The next step is getting the guns that are no longer permitted under those laws out of circulation and permanently off our streets."
The scheme's framework is informed by recommendations from the antisemitism royal commission. The buyback program draws parallels to past initiatives, such as the one following the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, where firearms were collected and destroyed.
The Albanese government has confirmed the agreement for the gun buyback in New South Wales following the Bondi Beach shooting.
