New South Wales, Australia, will initiate a gun buyback scheme starting November 2, 2026, in response to a shooting that resulted in 15 fatalities during a Hanukkah celebration in Sydney. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the program, which will provide compensation of $450 to $1,000 for eligible firearms returned, with a second phase allowing for higher-value firearms to be valued up to $10,000.
The gun buyback is part of broader gun control measures adopted by Albanese's government following the December 14 attack at Bondi Beach. New South Wales has also enacted stricter state firearms laws and the federal government has enhanced regulations on hate speech and extremism. The alleged gunmen used firearms obtained legally, and there were approximately 4.1 million firearms in Australia last year, including over 1.1 million in New South Wales.
Albanese emphasized the need for meaningful nationwide gun reform to prevent similar attacks in the future. This buyback initiative is expected to be the largest since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, which prompted significant changes to gun laws in Australia. New South Wales has limited individual firearm ownership to four guns, with exemptions for certain license holders.
Premier Chris Minns stated that the goal is to remove firearms no longer permitted under the new laws from circulation. The attack was allegedly carried out by a father and son, with the father killed by police and the son facing multiple charges, including 15 counts of murder. A bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, was recognized for disarming one of the gunmen during the incident.