NSW GUN BUYBACK ANNOUNCED!

NSW Government firearm reforms

Following the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, the NSW Government introduced the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 which includes the toughest firearm reforms in a generation.  

Key elements of the reforms include capping and restricting the number and type of firearms a person can own, strengthening checks on people seeking to own firearms and reducing the licence period from five years to two.

These firearms reforms strengthen oversight, reduce risk and help keep the community safe.

The Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 will:

• Prohibit firearms which can use belt fed ammunition, and exclude them from licence categories C and D.
• Classify straight pull/pump action firearms and button/lever release firearms as category C firearms.  
• Classify semi-automatic air guns as category B firearms.  
• Impose magazine capacity limits of 5 or 10 rounds for relevant category A firearms, and 10 rounds for centre-fire rifles (other than self-loading) under category B firearms.  

These provisions are not yet in force and will commence on proclamation on date/s to be determined. 

The NSW Government is also investing more than $42.8 million over 10 years into the NSW Firearms Registry, including additional staff and system upgrades to support the implementation of these reforms and the Buyback Scheme.  

The Buyback Scheme is informed by the Interim Report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion’s recommendations to prioritise efforts to finalise and implement an updated and nationally consistent National Firearms Agreement (Recommendation 13) and Buyback Scheme (Recommendation 14).  

 

NSW will participate in the National Gun Buyback Scheme from 2 November 2026 

New South Wales will be the first state to commence the Commonwealth Government’s National Gun Buyback Scheme, with both governments agreeing to share the costs of the buyback 50:50.

The Buyback Scheme will be implemented in phases in New South Wales, with Phase 1 commencing 2 November 2026. It will provide compensation for eligible firearms affected by firearm limits and classification changes introduced under the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025, and ammunition.

The NSW Government will provide further information on eligibility, compensation arrangements and participation in due course, on this webpage and through direct contact with licensed firearm owners. 

Phase 1 of the NSW Buyback Scheme will include a fixed price schedule for individual licence holders, who are above the new legal limit for their licence, to return their firearms in exchange for fair compensation.

Phase 2 of the NSW Buyback Scheme, commencing in early 2027, will provide a pathway to compensation, for a fee, for eligible higher-value firearms with an indicative market value above $3,000, capped at $10,000 per firearm.