• Australia launches its largest gun buyback scheme since 1996 following the Bondi Beach attack.
• Prime Minister Albanese confirmed over 4 million firearms are currently in circulation.
• The attack left 15 dead and was described as a “terrorist incident” with links to extremist ideology.

In response to the recent deadly attack at Bondi Beach, Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced a comprehensive gun buyback scheme, marking the largest initiative since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. The attack, which occurred during a Jewish festival, claimed 15 lives and left numerous others injured. Albanese stated that this action is critical to removing firearms from the streets, noting that, “There is no reason someone living in the suburbs of Sydney needed this many guns” while confirming the existence of over 4 million firearms in Australia today, more than at the time of the Port Arthur massacre, according to BBC and Al Jazeera.

The gun buyback plan will involve the federal government collaborating with states and territories to purchase surplus and newly banned firearms. Albanese expressed a sense of urgency for stronger reforms in light of evolving security threats, stating that “we need to finish the job on gun reform." This scheme is indicative of the Australian government’s ongoing efforts to tackle rising gun violence, following years of strict regulations that emerged after the 1996 massacre, as reported by AA and CBS News.

In addition to the gun buyback, Albanese announced a national day of reflection scheduled for the upcoming Sunday, which aims to honor the victims of the shooting and foster community solidarity. Following the attack, public outcry regarding gun ownership has intensified, with the Prime Minister emphasizing that “non-citizens have no need to own a gun,” and asserting the necessity of taking decisive action against firearm proliferation, as detailed by BBC and Al Jazeera.

The Bondi Beach attack, regarded as one of the deadliest mass shootings in Australian history, has not only prompted discussions about gun laws but also highlighted the increased instances of hate crimes, particularly against Jewish communities in Australia. Albanese noted a surge in anti-Semitism following the Hamas-led attacks on Israel, linking the perpetrators of the Bondi shooting to “Islamic State ideology,” according to AA and CBS News.