The ACT has sensibly agreed to participate in the Albanese government's national gun buyback scheme launched in response to the devastating Bondi shootings in December last year. This brings the territory into line with NSW, which until now was the only state to sign up for the federal scheme. Under the arrangement, the federal government will fund 75 per cent of the compensation, administration, and firearm destruction costs.
As a jurisdiction entirely landlocked by NSW, it is only logical for the territory to be on the same page as its larger neighbour. Furthermore, the territory is essentially a city-state and Australia's most urbanised jurisdiction. This unique geography makes it arguably a place where the need for individuals, including legitimate recreational shooters, to own large arsenals of weapons is highly questionable.
Currently, the territory has more than 7000 licensed firearm owners possessing an estimated 23,000 registered weapons. This equates to an average of just under four guns per licensed owner. While authorities rightfully acknowledge that the overwhelming majority of these licence holders are responsible and law-abiding citizens, reducing the sheer volume of firearms in circulation remains a practical measure to enhance community safety. Fewer available weapons directly reduces the risk of legally owned firearms being stolen and diverted into the hands of organised crime networks or extremists.
The buyback agreement reinforces a broader suite of aggressive territory government reforms aimed at modernising local weapons laws. Recent legislative moves seek to make it significantly harder for high-risk individuals to obtain a firearm licence and access weapons. Authorities are advancing measures to cap the number of guns an individual can legally own, an initiative expected to affect about 14 per cent of local licence holders.
Legislators are also pushing to explicitly ban belt-fed firearms and crack down on emerging technological threats, including the creation of weapons using 3D printing. By criminalising the possession of digital blueprints for the computer-aided manufacture of firearm parts, the territory is anticipating future threats to public security.
These combined efforts represent the most significant tightening of local gun laws in decades. By aligning with federal and NSW authorities, the territory government is taking proactive, responsible steps. Removing high-risk weapons from the community and harmonising cross-border regulations will ultimately keep all local residents safer and prevent the horrific events seen at Bondi from ever being repeated in Australia.
