Australian Capital Territory Joins National Gun Buyback With 75% Commonwealth Funding

The Commonwealth and Australian Capital Territory governments agreed on 22 August 2026 to run a firearms buyback in the territory, with the Commonwealth funding 75 per cent of compensation and administration costs and all destruction costs. The ACT has more than 7,000 licence holders and about 23,000 firearms, and about 14 per cent of holders could be affected by a proposed cap on firearm numbers. It follows New South Wales, the first jurisdiction to sign on, whose buyback starts on 2 November 2026 under a 50:50 split. Both governments tied the scheme to gun reforms agreed after the deadly attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025.