In a decisive response to the horrific terrorist attack at Bondi Beach, the Australian government has announced plans for a major national gun buyback scheme and a significant tightening of firearm ownership rules.
National Response to Tragedy
The proposed measures come directly after the country's deadliest mass shooting in nearly three decades. On Sunday, 14 December 2025, gunmen opened fire on a crowd of approximately 1,000 people celebrating Hanukkah, killing 15 individuals and wounding many others.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated the attack demonstrated an urgent need for reform. "The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets," he said. The alleged perpetrator, 24-year-old Naveed Akram, has been charged with 59 offences, including murder and terrorism. His father, a fellow gunman, was shot dead by police at the scene.
Details of the Firearms Crackdown
The planned buyback initiative will be Australia's most extensive since the landmark programme introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in Tasmania, which claimed 37 lives. Authorities revealed that one of the Bondi attackers held a firearm licence and legally owned six guns despite living in suburban Sydney.
"There’s no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns," Mr Albanese asserted, highlighting that Australia now has more than four million firearms in circulation—a higher number than at the time of the Port Arthur tragedy.
The broader crackdown will include:
- Strict new limits on the number of firearms a single person can own.
- Making Australian citizenship a mandatory prerequisite for obtaining a gun licence.
- The buyback scheme, funded on a 50-50 basis between the federal government and state and territory authorities.
Mourning and Moving Forward
The Prime Minister also confirmed that Sunday will be a national day of reflection to honour the victims and stand with Australia's Jewish community. He pledged to work with state premiers and Jewish leaders to arrange a formal day of mourning in the new year.
As of Friday morning, 15 attack survivors remained in hospital, with four in a critical but stable condition. Meanwhile, New South Wales Premier Chris Minns revealed plans for new laws allowing the government to restrict public assemblies in designated areas for up to 14 days—extendable to three months—following a terrorist incident.
The crime scene at Bondi Beach was finally lifted on Thursday, allowing the area to begin reopening as the nation grapples with the aftermath and prepares for a significant shift in its approach to gun control.
