Australia news live: Pauline Hanson opposes major gun buyback agreed in wake of Bondi terror attack

New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, will commence a gun buyback scheme in November, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Saturday. This reform was promised in the aftermath of a mass shooting at Bondi Beach in December last year, during which a father-and-son duo killed 15 people, marking one of Australia's deadliest modern mass shootings.

The buyback initiative will commence on November 2, offering monetary compensation for eligible handguns, shotguns, and rifles. Albanese emphasized the importance of implementing meaningful nationwide gun reform to prevent such attacks from recurring. He stated, "We must do everything we can to make sure the antisemitic terrorist attack in Bondi doesn't happen again. That includes meaningful nationwide gun reform."

New South Wales authorities had previously introduced laws limiting individuals to owning no more than four firearms, with certain exemptions for farmers. The buyback scheme will be extended to gun owners possessing more weapons than permitted under the new regulations. The scheme will provide compensation of up to $700 (Aus$1,000) per gun, with the expenses shared between federal and state governments.

State Premier Chris Minns revealed that hundreds of thousands of guns could potentially be returned for compensation and subsequent destruction. Minns emphasized the significance of the undertaking, stating, "We want those guns handed in, compensated for and safely destroyed. This is a big undertaking, but the principle behind it is simple: fewer dangerous guns in our community means a safer New South Wales."