New South Wales announced a gun buyback scheme to begin November 2, 2026, offering up to 1,000 Australian dollars compensation per eligible firearm including handguns, rifles, and shotguns [1, 2, 3]. The buyback responds to the December 14, 2025, mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration on Bondi Beach that killed 15 people. The attackers, a father and son, triggered renewed gun control efforts after the father died in a police shootout and the son faced charges including 15 counts of murder and terrorism [1, 2, 4, 3].

The scheme targets owners possessing more guns than allowed under new laws or with expired licenses [1, 3]. Under recent legislation, individuals in New South Wales may own a maximum of four guns, with exemptions for some farmers and sport shooters capped at 10 firearms [1, 2, 3]. The state and federal governments jointly fund this effort, aiming to remove approximately 274,000 guns from circulation [1, 3, 5].

This buyback is the largest since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre and the resulting nationwide reforms [2, 4, 6, 7]. Yet the total number of legally owned firearms in Australia reached 4.1 million by 2025, with over 1.1 million in New South Wales alone [2, 4, 6, 7]. Compensation varies by firearm type; handguns and rifles qualify for up to 1,000 AUD, airguns about 450 AUD, and a second phase launching in early 2027 will target high-value guns with payouts up to 10,000 AUD [3, 8, 5].

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the attack necessitates meaningful nationwide gun reform, stating, "We must do everything we can to make sure the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn’t happen again" [1]. Premier Chris Minns emphasized safety, remarking, "The principle behind it is simple: fewer dangerous guns in our community means a safer New South Wales" and called the program "bigger than 1996’s Port Arthur buyback" [1, 5].

The plan has drawn political criticism, with NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane calling it ineffective, saying, "If buying back guns was going to fix this and stop another Bondi, then that’s complete bullshit" [5].

The gun buybacks will officially open on November 2, 2026, with the second phase focused on high-value firearms scheduled for early 2027 [1, 3, 5].