Overview
- The NSW buyback, which began on Sunday, November 1, 2026, opened six police stations for appointment-only surrenders and had 331 owners register to hand in 2,420 firearms and 194 ammunition items.
- Owners must book online through the NSW Police Gun Safe website and will receive phase one payments of $450 to $1,000 per firearm with higher-value offers of up to $10,000 to run in a later phase in 2027.
- The scheme formalises ownership caps that limit recreational hunters to four firearms and most professionals to 10, with any extra holdings subject to approval by the police commissioner under an exemption process that is still being finalised.
- The buyback is politically contested with the state opposition and One Nation promising to scrap caps or reverse the policy if elected, creating clear risk of changes depending on future elections.
- The program includes industry support payments and licence fee relief, is expected to cost hundreds of millions shared with the federal government, and follows a Royal Commission interim recommendation and a separate WA buyback in 2024.