The decision follows Sunday’s attack at a Jewish cultural festival near Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed and dozens injured after two gunmen opened fire.
Canberra (Australia), December 21, 2025, BNN Web Staff — In response to the deadly shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, the Australian government has announced a nationwide gun buyback scheme, marking the country’s most significant firearms reform since the Port Arthur massacre nearly three decades ago.
The decision follows Sunday’s attack at a Jewish cultural festival near Bondi Beach, where 15 people were killed and dozens injured after two gunmen opened fire.
Authorities have officially classified the incident as a terrorist act, stating the attackers were influenced by extremist ideology linked to the so-called Islamic State.
Police have charged 24-year-old Naveed Akram with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one charge related to committing a terrorist act.
Investigators allege the assault was carried out by Akram and his father, Sajid, who was shot dead during the incident. Meanwhile, police said on Friday that several men earlier detained in Sydney over suspected extremist beliefs no longer pose an immediate threat and have been released.
In an emergency meeting held a day after the attack, the national cabinet — comprising federal leaders and representatives from all states and territories — reached a consensus on strengthening gun laws. The newly announced buyback program aims to reduce the number of firearms in civilian hands and prevent future mass-casualty incidents.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, addressing the media, noted that Australia currently has more than four million registered firearms — a figure higher than at the time of the 1996 Port Arthur shooting, which claimed 35 lives and led to landmark gun control reforms.
The government has not yet disclosed the full scope or timeline of the buyback scheme, but officials described it as a decisive step toward reinforcing public safety and countering violent extremism across the country.
