In the wake of Australia's worst mass shooting since 1996, the federal government has announced a sweeping national firearms buyback scheme. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese confirmed the initiative, which aims to purchase and destroy newly banned and illegal weapons from owners across the country.
National Response to a National Tragedy
The announcement follows the horrific attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday, where a crowd celebrating the first night of Hanukkah was targeted. Fifteen people lost their lives, with the final victim identified as 68-year-old eastern suburbs grandmother Tania Tretiak. The alleged attackers, Naveed Akram, 24, and his father Sajid, 50, were both shot by police; Sajid died at the scene, while Naveed remains in hospital under guard, having been charged with 59 offences.
Authorities have confirmed that seven men intercepted in Sydney last night shared the same extremist ideology as the alleged Bondi gunmen, though they have since been released from custody. In a disturbing development, the Islamic State has praised the father and son as 'lions' in a formal statement.
Prime Minister Albanese stated that December 21 would become a national day of mourning to honour the victims. His government's buyback plan is being framed as the most significant since the landmark reforms introduced by the Howard government after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
State Reforms Meet Federal Resistance
The federal move aligns with proposed state-level reforms in New South Wales, but not without controversy. NSW Premier Chris Minns has put forward a package to tighten gun laws, including:
- Reclassifying certain action firearms into a more restrictive category.
- Reducing magazine capacities for some firearm categories to a maximum of 5-10 rounds.
- Implementing a complete ban on firearms capable of using belt-fed magazines.
- Removing a key tribunal review pathway for licence cancellations.
However, these measures have faced immediate political pushback. Federal MP for Hunter and former Olympic shooter Dan Repacholi has declared he will not support the NSW laws, arguing they unfairly target responsible owners. 'I do not support changes that unfairly target responsible, law-abiding firearms owners,' Repacholi stated, receiving thousands of contacts from concerned constituents. He emphasised that firearms legislation is primarily a state matter and called for a focus on intelligence sharing and enforcing existing powers instead.
A Community in Mourning
The human cost of the attack continues to resonate deeply. The victims included Rabbi Yaakov Levitan, 39, and individuals from across the globe, highlighting the international impact of the tragedy. On Friday, over 700 surfers participated in a poignant paddle-out at Bondi Beach in memory of those killed.
As Australia grapples with the aftermath, the debate between public safety and the rights of licensed gun owners is set to intensify. The coming weeks will see both federal and state parliaments debate the path forward, seeking to prevent a repeat of the violence that has shattered a community and shocked the nation.
