Australia's Largest Gun Buyback Since Port Arthur Announced
In a decisive response to the deadly Bondi Beach terrorist attack that killed 15 people during a Jewish Hanukkah celebration, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the country's largest gun buyback scheme since the landmark 1996 Port Arthur reforms. The initiative, unveiled on December 19, 2025, aims to remove hundreds of thousands of firearms from Australian society as part of comprehensive gun law reforms.
'We must ensure there are fewer weapons in our society,' Albanese declared at a press conference announcing the plan. 'There is absolutely no reason why anyone needs so many weapons.' The Prime Minister pointed out that one of the Bondi attackers had legally owned six firearms, highlighting what he called dangerous loopholes in current regulations.
The Bondi Beach Tragedy
The December 14 attack on the 'Chanukah by the Sea' celebration at Sydney's iconic Bondi Beach represents Australia's deadliest terrorist incident and worst mass shooting since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. According to detailed reports, a father and son team opened fire from an elevated pedestrian bridge, killing 15 people and wounding over 40 others during an 8-10 minute shooting spree. Victims ranged in age from 10 to 87, including Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman and Rabbi Eli Schlanger.
The attack has been widely condemned as an act of antisemitic terrorism, with authorities recovering improvised explosive devices and an Islamic State flag from the attackers' vehicle. One shooter was killed by police, while the other was wounded and captured.
Comprehensive Gun Law Reforms
The new buyback scheme is part of broader reforms unanimously agreed upon by Australia's national cabinet. These include accelerating implementation of a National Firearms Register, limiting the number of guns individuals can own, restricting certain weapon types, and requiring Australian citizenship for firearm licenses. 'Non-citizens have no need to own a gun,' Albanese emphasized during his announcement.
The program will be funded 50-50 between the federal government and state/territory governments, with expectations that hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed. While specific details about whether participation will be mandatory or voluntary remain to be determined by state police ministers, the initiative represents Australia's most significant gun control effort in nearly three decades.
Historical Context: The 1996 Port Arthur Response
Australia's current approach to gun control was fundamentally shaped by the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, where 35 people were killed by a lone gunman. As documented by research from RAND Corporation, the resulting National Firearms Agreement led to the destruction of over 659,000 prohibited firearms through a government buyback program costing approximately $304 million in compensation.
That comprehensive policy banned several types of firearms including self-loading rifles and shotguns, established a national licensing system with strict storage requirements, and implemented waiting periods for purchases. Research shows the 1996 reforms led to significant reductions in firearm suicides, mass shootings, and female homicide victimization.
Current Firearms Landscape
Despite the success of the 1996 reforms, Australia now faces a different challenge. According to government statistics, there are currently over 4 million registered firearms in Australia - more than existed before the Port Arthur massacre. 'We have more firearms in circulation now than we did at the time of that attack,' Albanese noted, explaining the need for renewed action.
The Prime Minister's announcement comes amid heightened security concerns, with police recently arresting seven men in a Sydney suburb who were allegedly traveling to Bondi Beach with similar extremist ideologies. Although they carried no weapons beyond a knife, counter-terrorism officers detained them as a precautionary measure.
International Attention and Domestic Response
The Bondi attack and Australia's response have drawn international attention, with global leaders expressing solidarity with Australia and condemning the antisemitic violence. Domestically, the government has scheduled a national day of reflection for December 21, exactly one week after the attack.
While facing some political resistance, the Albanese government must first pass funding legislation through parliament, with the opposition Coalition yet to formally commit support. Gun rights advocates have expressed concerns about the program's scope, while public safety advocates argue that stronger measures are necessary to prevent future tragedies.
As Australia grapples with this latest tragedy, the nation returns to a familiar but painful debate about balancing individual rights with collective security - a conversation that began nearly three decades ago at Port Arthur and continues today at Bondi Beach.