Australian state to launch gun buyback after Bondi Beach attack
New South Wales, where the attack took place, will offer gun owners cash to give up their firearms.
New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, is set to launch a gun buyback program later this year, becoming the first to offer cash for firearms following the Bondi Beach terror attack.
Starting November 2, gun owners in NSW can receive up to AUS$1,000 (£523) for eligible handguns, shotguns, and rifles. This initiative comes after Australian authorities promised extensive firearm law reforms in the wake of the December attack, where 15 people were fatally shot at a Jewish festival on Sydney's Bondi Beach.
NSW Premier Chris Minns stated on Saturday, "We want those guns handed in, compensated for and safely destroyed," anticipating that hundreds of thousands of firearms could be surrendered.
Recent reforms in the state limit individuals to owning four firearms, though exceptions exist for groups like farmers and sports shooters, who can possess up to 10. The buyback targets those exceeding these new limits or whose licenses are no longer valid, as license terms have been shortened from five to two years.
The scheme will unfold in two phases. The first, beginning in November, covers handguns, shotguns, and rifles, with payments such as AUS$1,000 for a revolver and AUS$450 for an air rifle. The second phase, starting early next year, will address "higher-value firearms" exceeding AUS$3,000, with a cap of AUS$10,000.
The National Gun BuyBack Scheme is a joint effort between New South Wales and the federal government. Businesses, including gun dealers, can receive up to AUS$25,000 in support to help them adapt to the new regulations.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese emphasized the importance of the initiative, stating, "We must do everything we can to make sure the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn't happen again. That includes meaningful nationwide gun reform."
On December 14 last year, 15 individuals, including a 10-year-old girl and a Holocaust survivor, were killed during Hanukkah celebrations near Bondi Beach. While a nationwide gun buyback was initially planned by Australian authorities, those plans have faced delays due to funding and implementation challenges.