Another state shoots down funding national gun buyback

South Australia has declined to participate in a proposed national gun buyback program, insisting that such a scheme should be entirely funded by the Commonwealth rather than sharing costs with individual states. Treasurer Tom Koutsantonis argued that the state cannot divert essential funds from critical services to a program driven by federal politics.

Koutsantonis stated that South Australia believes its approach to balancing budget priorities is appropriate. He added that if the Commonwealth government wishes to proceed with a buyback scheme modeled after John Howard’s 1996 program, which was fully funded by the Commonwealth, they are welcome to do so. All states currently face funding pressures to maintain services for health, disability, and other frontline needs.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and New South Wales Premier Chris Minnis announced the commencement of the state's buyback program, set to begin in November. New South Wales is currently the sole jurisdiction involved in the national scheme, which originated following the Bondi terror attack in December, where 15 people were killed.

Several conservative governments in Queensland, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory have also opted out of the buyback. Western Australia has already conducted its own gun buyback and has no plans for a second scheme tied to the Bondi attack. In Victoria, former premier Jacinta Allan had previously opposed joining the national buyback, contributing to doubts about federal participation ahead of the upcoming election.

The disagreement has reignited debates reminiscent of former Liberal prime minister John Howard's 1996 post-Port Arthur buyback, funded entirely by the Commonwealth through a temporary Medicare levy. Gun-rights advocates criticize Albanese’s approach, arguing it unfairly targets law-abiding shooters and fails to address extremism and radicalization.

Sporting shooters, along with various pro-gun groups, are opposing the post-Bondi reforms at both federal and state levels. In regional NSW, independent MP Roy Butler criticized the Minns government's approach for unfairly targeting farmers and sporting shooters in his electorate. Anti-violence organizations, including the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, have supported the NSW buyback and are advocating for other states to strengthen their firearms laws.