Australia will introduce a national gun buyback scheme following the deadly mass shooting in Sydney, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday.
The decision comes days after gunmen opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration near Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and injuring dozens. The attack has renewed national debate over firearm access and public safety.
Prime Minister Albanese said the new buyback would follow the model introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. That tragedy prompted some of the strictest gun laws in the world.
“Australia last reformed its gun laws after Port Arthur,” Albanese said during a media briefing. “The horrific events at Bondi show we must remove more guns from our streets.”
Authorities confirmed that one of the attackers held a valid firearm licence and legally owned six registered guns. The revelation intensified calls for tougher controls. Albanese said Australia currently has around four million firearms. The buyback will target surplus weapons, newly banned guns, and illegal firearms. Federal and state governments will share the cost.
🚨BREAKING: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a national gun buy back scheme, the first since John Howard’s response to Port Arthur in 1996, with the government expecting “hundreds of thousands” of firearms to be surrendered.
He cited the Queensland and Dezi Freeman… pic.twitter.com/SLwH8N95Lc
— Australians vs. The Agenda (@ausvstheagenda) December 19, 2025After Port Arthur, Australia recovered about 640,000 prohibited weapons through a nationwide buyback. The scheme cost approximately A$304 million in compensation. The prime minister also announced plans to strengthen hate crime laws. His government faces mounting pressure to respond to rising antisemitism since the start of the Gaza war.
Officials said the government has repeatedly condemned antisemitism and passed legislation that criminalises hate speech. Australia also expelled Iran’s ambassador after accusing Tehran of directing antisemitic arson attacks. Investigators believe the Bondi shooting drew inspiration from Daesh ideology. Police have increased patrols nationwide to prevent further violence.
Seven Men Detained in Sydney
Late Thursday, police stopped two vehicles and detained seven men in Sydney’s southwest after receiving intelligence about a possible attack. New South Wales Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said authorities acted out of caution. “We were not prepared to take any risks,” he said.
Read: Indian Passport of Bondi Beach Attacker Emerges After Sydney Hanukkah Shooting
Police later assessed that the specific threat remained unclear. Officers may release the men but will continue to monitor them. Lanyon confirmed no direct link to the Bondi attackers but said investigators found ideological similarities. Daesh later praised the Bondi attack on its Telegram channel, calling it a “source of pride,” though it did not formally claim responsibility.
Australia will mark one week since the Bondi Beach mass shooting with a national day of "reflection", Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Friday as he outlined plans for a sweeping gun buyback scheme.https://t.co/mhkMkRlLDl pic.twitter.com/ledz8s1sjJ
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 19, 2025Community unites at Bondi Beach.
On Friday, Australia’s Jewish community gathered at Bondi Beach for prayers. Hundreds of surfers and swimmers paddled into the water, forming a large circle to honour the victims.
Authorities deployed additional security at key sites, including Sydney’s Lakemba Mosque, ahead of Friday prayers. Rabbi Yosef Eichenblatt of Sydney’s Central Synagogue described the show of solidarity as deeply moving.
“For two years, many people wondered if they were still welcome here,” he told ABC News. “Seeing this support has been incredibly healing.”
