Firearms on display at the Australian Federal Police’s Sydney Airport Office in Mascot, Sydney, Australia on Oct. 6, 2017. AAP Image/Joel Carrett
Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie is calling on New South Wales (NSW) legal firearms owners to hold off on complying with the state’s gun buyback scheme in the hopes a new government will emerge from the upcoming state election.
The 12-month post-Bondi attack scheme is now open, allowing licensed firearms owners to surrender weapons and ammunition that were previously allowed but may no longer be permitted under the new laws.
The changes, introduced through the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (the Amendment Act), impose new restrictions on firearm ownership, including limits on the number of firearms a person can hold, additional citizenship requirements, and changes to firearm classifications.
Following the Bondi Beach Massacre in December 2025, the federal government announced its package of gun reforms, though these were largely dependent on the states and territories to implement.
NSW is the only state to have signed up to the gun buyback scheme so far.
McKenzie is banking on a change of government in NSW when the election is held on March 13, 2027, to reverse the buyback scheme.
Related Stories
“I think my advice to law-abiding firearm owners across New South Wales would be: ‘Don’t rush to hand your firearms in,’” she said.
“This goes for 12 months, and I think we’re all hoping the government changes in March in New South Wales, and these draconian laws will be no more.”
McKenzie said legal firearms owners were confronted with two unfair circumstances.
“It’s unjust because you’re literally taking people’s private property and not paying them due compensation, and it’s morally wrong,” she told ABC Radio National.
“[And] because law-abiding firearm owners are being scapegoated for Islamic terrorists, and I guess people have had enough of being blamed for things that they’re not responsible for.”
“What concerns me is the growing amount of gun crime on the streets of, particularly our capital cities, with these illicit and illegal firearms being used by criminal elements in our society.
The senator called for border control to be improved to prevent illegal firearms being smuggled into the country.
Premier Makes No Apologies
“After the horrifying terrorist attack at Bondi, we said we would take big and decisive action to reduce the risk of gun violence in our community—and that is exactly what we have done,” Minns said.
“There are more firearms in circulation in Australia today than there were before Port Arthur. We have made a deliberate decision to put community safety first by reducing the number of firearms in our community, and I make no apologies for that.”
Catley said there had so far been strong demand for surrender appointments, but urged firearms owners to ensure they called ahead.
“This is a significant undertaking and the NSW police are working hard to ensure it happens safely,” she said.
“I can’t stress this enough-gun owners must continue to make appointments at participating police stations to surrender.”
