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Months on from the Bondi terror attack, the national gun buyback is floundering

15 0
28.04.2026

The day after the horror shooting and killing of 15 people at a Jewish festival at Bondi Beach last year, national cabinet agreed to take steps to eradicate antisemitism, hate, violence and terrorism.

In addition to the drafting of laws designed to limit hate speech, the government was determined to tighten Australia’s gun laws.

Among the measures was a national gun buyback. But months on from the tragedy, there’s been little movement on implementing it. Indeed, some states have pushed back against the idea.

Here’s what’s been achieved so far, and what’s still left to do.

Surplus to requirements

Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the scheme will target surplus and some types of newly restricted firearms.

The term “surplus” is instructive. It’s alleged the Bondi shooter, who died at the hands of police snipers, legally owned six firearms.

He and his son (now before the courts charged with 15 counts of murder) would not legally have had access to this number of firearms if these new laws had been in place prior to the attack.

The firearms bill passed both the House of Representatives and Senate at special sittings on January 20. The act commenced two days later.

Read more: Why can someone in suburban Sydney own 6 guns legally? New laws might change that

30 years of gun reform

This legislation brought in the most significant changes to Australia’s gun laws since the reforms that followed the Port Arthur massacre of April 28 1996. Today marks its 30th........

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