NSW to start national gun buyback amid premier's opposition

A national gun buyback program is set to begin in New South Wales with six police stations accepting surrendered firearms from November 2, according to Moree Champion. Additional 34 stations will start receiving excess firearms from December 1. The program limits the number of firearms surrendered per person to four, while primary producers and sporting shooters may surrender up to ten firearms.

The buyback will compensate owners for firearms they can no longer legally possess. It follows tough national gun control laws enacted after the Bondi massacre in 2025. About one in 33 people in NSW hold a gun license, with over one million individual firearms legally registered, the highest in Australia. Approximately 18 percent of license holders will be eligible to participate, with up to 274,000 firearms expected to be surrendered in NSW.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has expressed opposition to the buyback, stating he would "absolutely not" participate despite a recent drive-by shooting in Brisbane that injured four people. He argued that "good people should be able to have weapons" while criminals and terrorists should not have any guns.

NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley defended the program's goal of reducing firearms in circulation, stating that fewer guns in the community mean a safer environment and fewer weapons at risk of falling into the wrong hands.

To support businesses affected by the buyback, grants of up to $25,000 will be available for eligible businesses and dealers, along with a one-off license fee relief of $500 per gun dealer. However, gun shop owners and shooting groups have criticized the program, as reported by Mudgee Guardian and South Coast Register.