Australia Launches Gun Buyback Scheme Following Bondi Terror Attack

SYDNEY: Australia on Sunday revealed details of a buyback scheme for banned firearms following a deadly shooting incident at Bondi Beach, Sydney in December, reported the German Press Agency (dpa).

In the incident, two armed men, a father and son, opened fire on people celebrating the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and injuring dozens more.

New South Wales (NSW) will be the first state in the country to implement the buyback scheme, said state Premier Chris Minns.

“After the horrific anti-Semitic terror attack at Bondi Beach, we promised the people of NSW that we would tighten gun laws and do everything we can to make our communities safer,” said Minns.

Starting November 2, firearm owners in NSW will be offered up to A$1,000 (US$708) to surrender firearms affected by new ownership restrictions and classification changes.

The second phase of the scheme in early 2027 will involve compensation for eligible higher-value firearms.

“This will be the largest program to remove dangerous firearms from circulation in nearly 30 years,” said Minns.

“No law can eliminate every risk.

“However, the fewer dangerous firearms in our communities, the safer NSW will be.”

Minns estimates that up to 274,000 firearms will be removed from circulation through the buyback scheme.

Following the Bondi attack, the NSW government passed new gun laws that restrict and limit the number and types of firearms a person can own, tighten checks on those wishing to own firearms, and shorten the licence period from five years to two years.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promised to implement a buyback scheme at the national level several days after the attack.

However, the plan was delayed due to uncertainty regarding funding and its implementation.

BERNAMA