Australia's capital to launch gun buyback scheme following Bondi attack

Australia's capital territory will participate in a nationwide gun buyback initiative announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese following the fatal attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney. The centre-left government enacted legislation in January to establish the buyback programme, which offers financial incentives for citizens to voluntarily surrender firearms to authorities.

The programme represents a renewed effort by the federal government to strengthen firearm regulations and reduce access to weapons across the country. The Bondi Beach incident, which resulted in multiple fatalities, prompted policymakers to accelerate measures aimed at removing guns from private ownership.

State and territory governments have been encouraged to implement the buyback scheme within their jurisdictions. The participation of the Australian Capital Territory signals growing support among regional authorities for the federal initiative, which builds on Australia's existing strict gun control framework.

The buyback programme complements existing firearm licensing requirements and registration systems across Australian states and territories. Officials have not yet disclosed specific compensation amounts or implementation timelines for the ACT scheme, though details are expected to be released as the programme moves forward.