NSW Gun Buyback Draws Backlash Over A$1,000 Cap as State Targets 274,000 Firearms
Updated
Updated · ABC News · Aug 16
NSW Gun Buyback Draws Backlash Over A$1,000 Cap as State Targets 274,000 Firearms
3 articles · Updated · ABC News · Aug 16
Summary
A$1,000 per gun in the first phase has triggered anger from farmers, sporting shooters and gun shops, who say the compensation falls well below what many firearms cost.
The NSW scheme, announced over the weekend, starts November 2 and aims to remove 274,000 firearms after December limits capped most licence holders at four guns and some farmers and sports shooters at 10.
Gun dealers say the policy is already hitting regional businesses: one Dubbo shop reported firearm sales down 90%, while a Tamworth gun maker said turnover has fallen 80% since the Bondi attack.
NSW Premier Chris Minns says the buyback will make the state safer after the Bondi massacre, with a second phase in 2027 for firearms valued above A$3,000 and compensation capped at A$10,000.
With legally obtained weapons used in the Bondi attack, can a massive gun buyback truly stop digitally radicalized extremists from striking again?
As Australia's registered firearms hit record highs, will paying citizens to surrender their guns prevent the looming threat of 3D-printed weapons?
The 2026 NSW Gun Buyback: Policy, Tragedy, and the Fragmented Future of Australian Gun Control
Overview
After the devastating Bondi Beach terror attack in December 2025, which killed 15 people, the NSW and Commonwealth Governments launched strict new gun laws and a major buyback scheme set for November 2026. These reforms limit most owners to four firearms and shorten licence periods, with millions allocated to support enforcement. However, the exclusion of expensive accessories from compensation risks fueling a black market. The national plan fractured as four states refused to join, creating regulatory gaps that could allow firearms to move across borders. This fragmented response stands in stark contrast to Australia’s unified and successful 1996 gun reforms after the Port Arthur massacre.