ACT joins Australia gun buyback after Bondi Beach massacre killed 15
Synopsis
Australia's gun buyback push is gaining ground: the ACT has become the second jurisdiction to formally join the scheme triggered by the Bondi Beach massacre that killed 15 people in December 2025. With the federal government absorbing up to 100% of destruction costs, the funding dispute that stalled the ACT is resolved — but six states and territories remain uncommitted.
Key Takeaways
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has agreed to join Australia's national gun buyback scheme, confirmed on 22 August .
The scheme was introduced in January 2026 following the Bondi Beach mass shooting on 14 December 2025 , which killed 15 people .
The federal government will fund 75% of buyback and administrative costs and 100% of firearm destruction costs.
The ACT is the second of Australia's eight states and territories to join, after New South Wales (NSW) signed on earlier in August.
Around 23,000 firearms are currently held in the ACT, with over 7,000 licensed holders.
NSW will pay up to A$1,000 per gun in phase one (from 2 November ) and up to A$10,000 for higher-value firearms in phase two from early 2027 .
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) will join Australia's national gun buyback scheme, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed on Saturday, 22 August, marking a significant step in the country's firearms reform push following the Bondi Beach mass shooting of 14 December 2025. The attack at a Jewish festival on the iconic Sydney beach killed 15 people — making it Australia's deadliest mass shooting since 1996.
The ACT becomes the second of Australia's eight states and territories to formally join the buyback, after the east coast state of New South Wales (NSW) signed on earlier in August.
How the Funding Agreement Works
After months of negotiations between the ACT and federal governments over cost-sharing, a final funding structure has been agreed. The federal government will cover 75 per cent of buyback and administrative costs, and will fully fund — at 100 per cent — all firearm destruction costs. The ACT government had initially committed to the scheme in principle but held back pending resolution of these financial terms.
Scale of Firearms in the ACT
Albanese noted that the territory currently holds approximately 23,000 firearms, with more than 7,000 people holding active firearms licences. The buyback is intended to reduce that stock as part of a broader national effort to tighten gun ownership rules.
What the NSW Buyback Offers
The NSW government has detailed its own buyback pricing: owners who hand in firearms during phase one, beginning 2 November, will receive up to A$1,000 (approximately US$717) per weapon. Higher-value firearms surrendered during phase two, which opens from early 2027, will attract payments of up to A$10,000 (approximately US$7,170).
Albanese's Statement on the Reform
'National gun reform is an important part of making sure an antisemitic terrorist attack, as we saw at Bondi, can't happen again,' Albanese said. He added: 'I thank the ACT government for their collaboration as we work to take guns off our streets in order to better protect Australians.'
The federal government had introduced the buyback legislation in January 2026, within weeks of the Bondi attack. With NSW and the ACT now on board, pressure is expected to mount on the remaining six states and territories to follow. The pace at which other jurisdictions join the scheme will test whether the national reform effort holds together or fractures along state lines.
Point of View
But the harder test lies ahead: six of Australia's eight jurisdictions are yet to commit. The funding formula — with Canberra absorbing all destruction costs — signals that the federal government is willing to pay a premium to keep the coalition together. What the scheme cannot easily address is the ideological resistance in rural and regional states where firearms ownership is culturally entrenched. The Bondi attack's antisemitic framing also adds a dimension that goes beyond gun control alone, raising questions about whether the reform is being designed to address the specific threat profile or simply to reduce overall firearm numbers — two goals that are related but not identical.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Australia introducing a gun buyback scheme?
Australia introduced the gun buyback in response to the Bondi Beach mass shooting on 14 December 2025, in which 15 people were killed at a Jewish festival — the country's deadliest mass shooting since 1996. The federal government passed the enabling legislation in January 2026.
What is the ACT's role in the gun buyback?
The Australian Capital Territory has agreed to join the national gun buyback scheme after resolving a funding dispute with the federal government. The ACT is the second of Australia's eight states and territories to formally sign on, after New South Wales.
How will the gun buyback be funded in the ACT?
Under the agreed terms, the federal government will cover 75 per cent of buyback and administrative costs, and 100 per cent of firearm destruction costs. The ACT government's share covers the remaining 25 per cent of buyback and administrative expenses.
How much will gun owners be paid under the NSW buyback?
NSW will pay up to A$1,000 (approximately US$717) for firearms handed in during phase one, which begins on 2 November. Higher-value weapons surrendered in phase two, from early 2027, will attract payments of up to A$10,000 (approximately US$7,170).
How many firearms are currently registered in the ACT?
Prime Minister Albanese stated there are approximately 23,000 firearms in the ACT, held by more than 7,000 licensed owners. The buyback aims to reduce this number as part of the national reform effort.
