Australian PM proposes new gun buyback plan following Bondi Beach shooting
by Darryl Coote · UPIDec. 19 (UPI) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Friday proposed a national gun buyback program to remove surplus, newly banned and illegal firearms from the country in the wake of one of the country's deadliest shootings.
"The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets," Albanese said during a press conference in Canberra.
Fifteen people were killed and 40 others injured when a father-son duo opened fire on crowds gathered at Australia's iconic Bondi Beach on Sunday, in a terrorist attack targeting Sydney's Jewish community.
The 50-year-old father was shot dead by police at the scene, while the 24-year-old son was hospitalized with serious injuries. The son has since been charged with 15 counts of murder and dozens of related offenses.
Authorities said the pair were motivated by Islamic State ideology.
It is the worst mass shooting in the country's history, second only to the Port Arthur massacre of 1996, which saw 35 people killed in Tasmania and directly led to nationwide gun-law reform that included a gun buyback program.
Authorities have said the father had an Australian gun license and owned six guns in the Sydney suburb of Bonnyrigg.
"There's no reason why someone in that situation needed that many guns," Albanese said during the press conference, stating there are 4 million firearms in Australia, more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre.
Legislation for the new buyback program proposed is to be funded half by the federal government and half by states and territories.
"We expect hundreds of thousands of firearms will be collected and destroyed through this scheme," he said.
According to the proposal, states and territories will be responsible for collecting, processing and paying for the surrendered firearms and the Australian Federal Police will be responsible for destroying the weapons.
"We will introduce this National Buyback Scheme to get guns off our streets and to help to assist to make all Australians safe," he said.
The proposal states the scheme is consistent with the approach taken following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
The federal government is seeking states and territories' agreement to the new reforms by March and have the reforms legislated by July 1.
"Gun laws are only as strong as the weakest state," the prime minister's office said in a statement. "Having laws that are national and consistent is vital to their effectiveness."
The buyback scheme that followed the Port Arthur massacre began in most states on Oct. 1, 1996, and ended Sept. 30, 1997. Government statistics show more than 640,000 firearms were surrendered during that period.
Australia also maintains a permanent national firearms amnesty program to reduce the number of unregistered firearms in the country.
Between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2024, Australians surrendered 40,936 firearms and weapons and 1,463 firearm parts and accessories.
The announcement comes a day after Albanese proposed a new hate speech crackdown that included creating new offenses and increasing penalties for preachers and leaders who promote violence as well as for hate speech that promotes violence.
During the press conference, Albanese also announced that Sunday would be declared a Day of Reflection to honor the victims of the Bondi Beach shooting and to stand in solidarity with the Jewish community.
All flags in New South Wales and Australian government buildings will be flown at half-mast.
"As a mark of respect for the lives lost and the grief shared across our nation, we invite people across Australia to light a candle at 6:47 p.m., exactly one week since the attack unfolded, as a quiet act of remembrance with family, friends or loved ones," he said.