Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a national gun buyback scheme following the deadly mass shooting at a Jewish holiday event on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, which claimed 15 lives.

The program is being hailed as Australia’s largest buyback since 1996, when the Port Arthur massacre—the country’s deadliest modern mass shooting—prompted nationwide reforms that drastically tightened gun ownership laws.

Albanese Calls for Action Against Surplus and Illegal Firearms

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Albanese said:

“Right now, there are more guns in Australia than there were during Port Arthur. We can’t allow that to continue.”

Authorities will purchase surplus, newly-banned, and illegal firearms under the program. State and territory governments will manage collection and payment for surrendered guns, while federal police will oversee destruction of confiscated weapons.

The prime minister expects hundreds of thousands of firearms will be removed from circulation, reinforcing Australia’s reputation for some of the strictest gun laws in the world.

Bondi Shooting Sparks National Reflection

The attack on Sunday at Bondi Beach, carried out by father and son Sajid Akram (50) and Naveed Akram (24), was described as an antisemitic terrorist act inspired by Islamic State ideology. Sajid was shot dead at the scene, while Naveed has been charged with terrorism and murder following his recovery from a coma.

Albanese stressed the attack highlighted rising anti-Jewish sentiment in Australia, particularly after the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel and Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza.

“It was an attack on our Jewish community—but it was also an attack on the Australian way of life,” Albanese said.

The prime minister also announced tougher hate speech laws and a national day of reflection scheduled for Sunday, December 21, exactly one week after the massacre. Australians are encouraged to light candles at 6:47pm (07:47 GMT) in memory of the victims.

Community Pays Tribute at Bondi Beach

Hundreds of locals took to the waters at Bondi Beach, forming a circle in the surf to honor the victims. Swimmers and surfers paddled together, creating a powerful symbol of resilience and community solidarity.

Security consultant Jason Carr, who participated in the tribute, said:

“They slaughtered innocent victims, and today I’m swimming out there to be part of my community again and bring back the light. I’m not going to let someone so evil stop me from what I do.”

Gun Control in Australia: A Proven Track Record

Australia’s gun laws were tightened after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, when 35 people were killed by a lone gunman with semiautomatic weapons. That tragedy led to a nationwide buyback that removed over 650,000 firearms. The latest buyback plan aims to prevent a repeat of such tragedies amid rising gun ownership—currently estimated at over four million firearms nationwide.

Albanese concluded:

“Non-citizens have no need to own a gun. And someone in suburban Sydney has no need to own six. The terrible events of Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets.”