Australia Plans Massive Gun Buyback After Bondi Beach Terror Attack Kills 15

Australia has announced a massive national gun buyback programme following the deadly Bondi Beach terror attack in Sydney that claimed 15 lives and left dozens injured. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the move was necessary to prevent further tragedies and would mirror the landmark firearms reforms introduced after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

The announcement came as thousands of surfers, swimmers and paddleboarders gathered in the waters off Bondi Beach on Friday morning to pay tribute to the victims of the attack, which police have officially classified as a terrorist incident.

The shooting occurred on December 14, when two gunmen — identified as a father-son duo — opened fire on crowds celebrating Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights. One of the attackers, Sajid, was shot dead at the scene, while his son Naveed Akram (24) survived and has since been charged with 59 offences, including 15 counts of murder and one count of committing a terrorist act.

Addressing the media, Albanese said Australia’s gun laws required urgent strengthening.
“Australia's gun laws were last substantially reformed in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy. The terrible events at Bondi show we need to get more guns off our streets,” he said.

Authorities revealed that the deceased attacker held a valid firearms licence and legally owned six registered guns, a disclosure that has intensified scrutiny of Australia’s existing licensing and monitoring framework.

According to government estimates, there are around four million firearms currently in circulation across the country. The proposed buyback will target surplus weapons, newly banned firearms and illegal guns, with costs to be jointly borne by the federal and state governments.

Australia’s National Cabinet has also agreed to introduce a fresh set of restrictions, including:

• Limits on the number of firearms an individual can own

• Tighter controls on open-ended gun licences

• Further bans on specific categories of weapons

• A new rule restricting firearms licences to Australian citizens only

Bondi Beach Pays Tribute

In a powerful show of solidarity, thousands gathered offshore at Bondi Beach, forming a vast circle in the water and observing a minute’s silence. Drone footage showed surfers and swimmers floating quietly as waves rolled in, marking one of the largest paddle-out tributes ever seen in Australia.

“It’s a pretty proud moment to see everyone come together in solidarity,” surfer Matt Douglas told local media.

Bondi Beach, one of Australia’s most iconic locations, has since begun reopening. Surf lifesavers are set to resume full patrols from Saturday, while nearby parks and bridges affected by the attack have reopened after forensic investigations were completed.

Community leaders said the tribute reflected unity in the face of terror.
“I’ve seen paddle-outs before, but never of this size,” said Alex Ryvchin, co-chief executive of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry.

The Bondi attack has reignited a national debate on gun safety, terrorism, and public security, with the Albanese government signalling that swift legislative action will follow to tighten firearm controls and prevent similar attacks in the future.