Less than a week after the deadly Bondi Beach attack, the Australian government has launched a gun buyback scheme.
After what has been named the deadliest mass shooting in decades, the new gun buyback scheme is the largest since the Port Arthur massacre in Australia in 1996. That shooting killed 35 people, prompting the country to introduce world-leading gun control measures.
CBS News reports that 15 people were killed and dozens injured last Sunday when two gunmen opened fire on a Hanukah festival on Sydney’s most iconic beach. The shooters are believed to have been motivated by “Islamic State ideology.”
However, on Friday, police stated there was no reason to detain a group of men arrested in Sydney over their “extremist Islamic ideology.” Police allege that Sunday’s Bondi Beach attack, declared a terrorist incident, was committed by a father and son duo. Sajid Akram was killed during the attack, while Naveed Akram, 24, has been charged with 59 offenses. These include 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.
On Monday, the national cabinet, including representatives from the Australian Federal Government and leaders from all states and territories agreed to tighten gun controls. Speaking to the media Friday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed there are now over 4 million firearms in Australia, which is more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre.
“We know that one of these terrorists held a firearm license and had six guns, in spite of living in the middle of Sydney’s suburbs. There’s no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns,” Albanese said.
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett added, “If you’re going to reduce the number of guns, then a buyback scheme has to be a piece of that puzzle.”
Under the new buyback scheme, surplus, illegal and newly banned firearms will be purchased and funded on a 50-50 basis with the states and territories. Moreover, the government estimates that hundreds of thousands of firearms are to be collected and destroyed.
Moreover, the National Cabinet also agreed to impose limits on the number of firearms in the possession of one individual. Open-ended firearms licensing and types of guns that are legal are to be restricted, while Australian citizenship will be a condition of holding a gun license.
Australia needs to give this guy highest honour possible for saving lives of people in Bondi Beach incident. His bravery needs to be applauded 👏👏.#bondibeach pic.twitter.com/0eIKYgqhzE
— Twelfth_Man (@ChotaLittl25535) December 14, 2025
Australia will accelerate its work on a national firearms register, while firearm regulators will be given better access to criminal intelligence. New South Wales Police said on Friday they are preparing to release seven men with alleged “extremist ideology” but will continue to monitor them.
In a press conference, New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said there is “no confirmed link” between the alleged terrorists and the group of detained persons. However, Bondi Beach was one of a number of locations the detained group intended to visit.
“Whilst this specific threat posed by the males is unknown, I can say that the potential [for] a violent offense being committed was such that we were not prepared to tolerate the risk,” Lanyon said.
