The federal government will launch a new gun buyback scheme in response to the Bondi beach terror attack in what Anthony Albanese says will be the biggest collection of weapons since the Port Arthur massacre nearly three decades ago. It comes as New South Wales announced a suite of gun control measures including capping the number of firearms most recreational shooters can hold at four.
The deal between the federal and state governments aimed to make gun laws broadly uniform across states and territories. It introduced mandatory licensing, new rules for secure storage and use, and restrictions on semiautomatic and pump action firearms. There was a buyback scheme for guns that were now classed as illegal. Australians could voluntarily give up weapons in exchange for financial compensation leading to the surrender of more than 600,000 firearms.