Australia Plans Major Gun Buyback

Australia is preparing to launch a nationwide gun buyback program that could involve up to four million firearms, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday, following a deadly shooting in Sydney that shocked the country.

Speaking at a press conference in Canberra, Albanese said the government will introduce a national scheme to buy back surplus, newly banned, and illegal firearms as discussions continue on tightening Australia’s already strict gun laws.

Albanese said that the government will implement a national buyback scheme for excess, newly prohibited, and illegal firearms.

The prime minister described the plan as the largest gun buyback since 1996, when sweeping gun control laws were introduced under then Prime Minister John Howard following the Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, in which 35 people were killed.

Despite the strict measures enacted nearly three decades ago, Albanese said Australia now has more than four million firearms in circulation, more than at the time of the Port Arthur shooting.

Albanese added that talks are ongoing with state and territory leaders over potential new firearm policy options, though no specific reforms have yet been agreed.

The announcement comes days after a mass shooting at Sydney’s iconic Bondi Beach during the opening day of the Jewish Hanukkah festival, an eight-day celebration. Two gunmen opened fire on crowds, killing 15 people and injuring dozens. Most of the victims were Jewish, authorities said.

Investigators identified the attackers as a father and his son. The 50-year-old father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the 24-year-old son was wounded and later charged with 15 counts of murder and 40 counts of causing grievous bodily harm with intent to kill.

The proposed gun buyback is expected to reignite national debate over firearm ownership and public safety, as Australia grapples with one of its deadliest mass shootings in recent years.