Arabic version: نيو ساوث ويلز تحدد نوفمبر لبدء برنامج إعادة شراء الأسلحة

According to ABC News, New South Wales will become the first state to begin a gun buyback scheme announced after the December 14 Bondi Beach terror attack. The program starts on November 2 and will compensate eligible shooters who must surrender firearms under new possession limits or changed licence classifications.

As many as 274,000 firearms, about a quarter of those registered in NSW, and 50,000 licence holders are estimated to be affected by the reforms. In December, the state introduced acquisition limits of four firearms for most licence holders and 10 for groups including farmers and sports shooters. Firearms that can be reloaded more quickly, including straight-pull action weapons, were reclassified to require a more restricted licence, although those changes have not yet taken effect.

During the initial stage, a fixed schedule will pay from $450 for an air rifle to $1,000 for a centre-fire rifle or revolver. From early next year, owners of firearms with an indicative market value above $3,000 can apply for compensation capped at $10,000 per gun. A flat fee will apply to associated ammunition handed in. Dealers can access grants of up to $25,000 and licence-fee relief worth $500.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the government wanted firearms “handed in, compensated for and safely destroyed.” The Commonwealth will cover the cost of destroying surrendered guns, while the state and federal governments will evenly fund buyback and administration costs. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said meaningful nationwide gun reform was needed, but other jurisdictions have not committed to a national buyback. Queensland and Victoria rejected the measure, while Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory have committed to the national scheme with funding negotiations continuing.