The New South Wales opposition has pledged to freeze the state's gun buyback scheme and unwind key firearm restrictions introduced after the Bondi terror attack, a move that has drawn sharp criticism from the state's police minister.
Liberals' plan to freeze buyback and review gun laws
Opposition leader Kellie Sloane on Saturday unveiled the Liberals' plan to tackle firearms crime, which includes establishing a commission of inquiry into gun laws and freezing the buyback scheme while the inquiry completes its work. The scheme, set to begin on 2 November, is described as Australia's biggest gun buyback in 30 years, providing compensation to licence holders for firearms under new ownership limits and the reclassification of certain weapons.
“Following the inquiry, any buyback will be better targeted, provide fair compensation and allow associated ammunition and accessories to be surrendered in the same transaction,” Sloane said. The state Liberals had voted with the NSW government last year in support of the buyback, but now pledge to scrap Labor's firearm ownership caps for primary producers.
Police minister criticises 'stunning backflip'
NSW minister for police and counter-terrorism, Yasmin Catley, fired back at the Liberals' plan, calling it a “stunning backflip” that would leave more guns in circulation and unwind key community safety protections. These protections were implemented after the worst terror attack in NSW, in which 15 people were shot dead at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, during a Hanukah celebration.
Catley accused the Liberals and Nationals of following One Nation and putting politics before public safety. “On an issue as serious as gun safety, the coalition has gone from supporting stronger laws after Bondi to promising to unwind them as One Nation campaigns for them to be repealed,” she said in a statement. “Our position is simple and it has not and will not change: fewer dangerous guns in circulation means a safer NSW.”
Liberals cite consultation and tougher penalties
Sloane accused Labor of rushing through complex legislation without properly consulting licensed firearm owners, farmers, sporting shooters, collectors, firearms businesses and other affected stakeholders. She said the Liberals' plan aimed to combat threats to community safety, including organised crime, gangland violence, terrorism, firearms trafficking and illegal guns.
“We will fix Labor's flawed laws and back our police with the powers and resources they need,” Sloane said. The Liberals' plan includes increased funding for the NSW firearms registry and relevant police commands to disrupt criminal networks, seize illegal firearms and combat gangland violence. The maximum penalty for trafficking firearms would also be increased from 20 years' jail to life imprisonment, with mandatory jail terms for carrying illegal guns.
