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Australia announces major gun buyback after Bondi attack
The Australian government will implement its largest firearms buyback program in nearly 30 years following Sunday's deadly mass shooting at Bondi Beach, which left 15 people dead. The scheme aims to reduce the country's growing stockpile of guns, now exceeding 4 million-higher than at the time of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
Deadliest attack in decades sparks policy shift
The Bondi Beach shooting, declared a terrorist incident by police, targeted a Jewish festival. Authorities allege the attack was carried out by a father-son pair motivated by Islamic State ideology. Naveed Akram, 24, faces 59 charges, including 15 counts of murder and one of committing a terrorist act. His father, Sajid, was killed during the rampage.
New restrictions on gun ownership
National cabinet, comprising federal and state leaders, agreed to tighten firearm laws days after the attack. Key measures include:
- Limits on the number of guns held by any single individual;
- Restrictions on open-ended firearms licensing;
- A requirement that gun license holders be Australian citizens;
- Accelerated development of a national firearms register; and
- Enhanced access for regulators to criminal intelligence.
The buyback scheme, funded equally by federal and state governments, will target surplus, newly banned, and illegal firearms. Officials estimate hundreds of thousands of guns will be collected and destroyed.
Prime Minister cites alarming gun proliferation
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese highlighted the scale of Australia's gun problem, noting that one of the Bondi attackers held a license and possessed six firearms despite living in suburban Sydney. "There's no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns," he said.
"If you're going to reduce the number of guns, then a buyback scheme has to be a piece of that puzzle."
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett
Separate extremist group detained, then released
Police arrested seven men in Sydney's Liverpool suburb on Thursday, citing concerns over their "extremist Islamic ideology." While tactical officers found a knife during the raid, no firearms or other weapons were recovered. The men, who had traveled from Victoria, were released on Friday after authorities determined there was "no ongoing reason" to detain them.
New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon confirmed no direct link between the group and the Bondi attackers but noted that Bondi Beach was among the locations they had reportedly planned to visit. "The potential for a violent offence being committed was such that we were not prepared to tolerate the risk," he said.
Broader implications for national security
The Bondi attack has reignited debates over gun control and counterterrorism measures in Australia. The government's response reflects growing unease over the accessibility of firearms and the radicalization of individuals inspired by extremist ideologies. Officials have pledged to monitor the released men closely while accelerating reforms to prevent future tragedies.
