In response to the horrifying July 1 national terror attack that claimed 15 lives, including a 10-year-old girl, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has decided enough is enough. He has, unsurprisingly, proposed tougher gun laws Down Under. This move is the most tangible step taken by the Commonwealth after a hateful attack on Sydney’s Jewish community left one dead and others injured. The announcement from the federal government follows months of conversations around the country focused on improving public safety and addressing gun violence.
These new measures comprise a national gun buyback scheme intended to decrease the number of guns in circulation. Albanese through ensuring strong regulations. As he said, “If a gangster in Bonnyrigg can obtain six semiautomatic rifles today under the existing licensing regime, then something is very wrong.” The proposed state legislation would respond to these and similar complaints with tighter restrictions on gun ownership.
National Cabinet’s Commitment
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, state and territory leaders gathered after a national cabinet meeting to produce an exceptional announcement. They each committed to proactively finding ways to enforce and bolster our current gun laws. Tony Burke, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, indicated that individuals owning more firearms than legally permitted would be expected to surrender them if the proposed reforms become law.
Albanese made clear the seriousness of this moment. He said, “We look forward to collecting and destroying hundreds of thousands of firearms under this plan.” The UK government is clearly keen to push these measures through at speed. While buy back of the scheme, it will be heavily legislated during, offered in a 50-50 partnership with these states and these territories. This community-driven, collaborative approach is further indicative of a true commitment between all levels of government to make communities safer.
Historical Context and Recent Statistics
Australia has a long history of implementing strict gun laws after large-scale acts of violence. In response to the Port Arthur massacre in 1996, Australian authorities acted decisively. They crafted a National Firearms Agreement that brought in comprehensive reforms to regulate the ownership of firearms. As of 2024, New South Wales had more than 1.12 million registered firearms. Across the country, the number is well over 4 million registered guns.
The paler, previous buyback scheme launched in the wake of the Port Arthur horror brought in over 600,000 guns. The program ended up costing just over $304 million in compensation alone, plus the cost of administrating the program and public education campaigns. The government believes their new buyback program will work as well as past attempts. They hope that it will spark the same level of enthusiasm and interest in the public.
Public Support and Expectations
That campaign to pass stricter gun laws has since received national attention across Australia. For one, Albanese trumpeted the success of previous measures. Indeed, as Smith said, “In 1996, the then-Howard government did the right thing… We need to go further.” His comments reflect a growing consensus among Australians regarding the need for enhanced gun control in light of recent events.
As the federal government prepares to enact these important reforms, the winds of public opinion seem to be blowing toward support for more stringent regulations. Overwhelmingly, Australians have come to fear gun violence more, recognizing that it poses a direct threat to the safety of their communities. Albanese has shown a strong commitment to reforming gun laws. His priority is to address these public safety concerns while upholding the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens.
