ACT and Commonwealth agree on gun buyback scheme

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and the Commonwealth government have reached an agreement to implement a gun buyback scheme in the Territory. Under the deal, the Commonwealth will fund 75 per cent of the compensation and administration costs, as well as all costs associated with firearm destruction.

The initiative follows the introduction of the Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026, which includes proposed firearms caps. Chief Minister Andrew Barr stated that the agreement aims to strengthen community safety by reducing the number of high-risk firearms in circulation.

The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) has raised concerns regarding the funding of the scheme, questioning why taxpayers should fund a program that most other jurisdictions are not adopting. No specific start date or compensation schedule has been established.