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Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2)

Current status

This bill is currently before Parliament.

Policy area

Government & democracy

What does this bill do?

The National Gun Buyback SchemeA federal scheme for buying back firearms. would be repealed the day after the bill receives Royal AssentThe formal approval that makes a bill law..

Why was it introduced?

The explanatory memorandum says only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory had agreed by 30 June 2026 to join the National Gun Buyback SchemeA federal scheme for buying back firearms.. It argues that the lack of national agreement created uncertainty for licensed firearm owners, dealers and other businesses. It also says repeal would remove an undisclosed Commonwealth share of the scheme's cost and other costs, including around $5.8 million a year in ongoing Home Affairs funding announced in the 2026–27 Budget.

Broader context

Before 2026, firearm licensing, ownership and storage were largely administered by the states and territories, alongside Commonwealth import controls and general criminal law; the 14 December 2025 Bondi terror attack then prompted an expedited federal response. The 2026 Act created a national gun buyback schemeA federal scheme for buying back firearms. and added firearm and customs controls, but national cooperation stalled, with only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory committed by 30 June, prompting David Littleproud MP’s private bill to repeal those changes and restore the earlier position.

Key criticism

The evidence pack contains no parliamentary debate or opposition speech, so it does not establish any criticism from another party or speaker. The explanatory memorandum acknowledges that some measures being reversed were directed at protecting life and personal safety, but argues that the extra restrictions had not been shown to be necessary and proportionate.

Who supported it?

David Littleproud MP introduced this bill.

Introduced in House 07 Sept 2026
At second reading in House 07 Sept 2026
Not yet reached Senate —
Not yet law —

Did it become law?

Not yet

Final passage

No final vote yet

The bill has not yet completed passage through Parliament.

Days since introduction

29 days

Updated 06 Oct 2026.

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. The National Gun Buyback SchemeA federal scheme for buying back firearms. would be repealed the day after the bill receives Royal AssentThe formal approval that makes a bill law.. The bill's introductory sections would begin on the day of Royal AssentThe formal approval that makes a bill law..

  2. New federal offences covering the use of phone or internet services to share material about making firearms or explosives would be removed. Related references and definitions would also be deleted.

  3. Home Affairs and Customs officials would lose the information-sharing powers added in 2026 for sending firearms information to the Australian Criminal Intelligence CommissionA federal criminal intelligence agency.. The previous rule for entering or transmitting Customs information by computer would return.

  4. The 2026 changes to firearm import rules would be reversed. This includes changes to public-safety tests and police certification forms, returning the import system to its earlier position.

  5. The expanded firearm background checks introduced in 2026 would remain, including arrangements that can use Commonwealth intelligence in firearm-licensing decisions. The bill would also leave in place bans on importing or exporting certain violent extremist material and material showing prohibited symbols.

  6. Ministers could make temporary rules to manage the changeover, but Parliament could disallow them. The rules could only be made during the first six months and would expire within 24 months. They could not create offences, impose taxes, authorise arrest or searches, allocate public money, or directly rewrite the Act.

Show source excerpts
  1. 1. Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table The day this Act receives the Royal Assent. 2. Schedule 1 The day after this Act receives the Royal Assent.
    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) introduced text
  2. Crimes Act 1914 1 Paragraph 15GE(3)(g) Repeal the paragraph. Criminal Code Act 1995 2 Subdivision HB of Division 474 of the Criminal Code Repeal the Subdivision. 3 Subsections 475.1A(1) and (2) of the Criminal Code Omit “, HB”. 4 Dictionary in the Criminal Code (definition of firearms and explosives manufacture material) Repeal the definition.
    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) introduced text
  3. Customs Act 1901 5 Sections 273L and 273M Repeal the sections, substitute: 273L Entry and transmission of information by computer If this Act requires or permits information (including information in the form of particular words) to be entered or transmitted by computer, the information may be entered or transmitted by computer in an encoded form chosen by the Comptroller‑General of Customs.
    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) introduced text
  4. Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 6 After regulation 1 1A Modified operation—reversing firearms legislation changes These Regulations have effect on and after the commencement of this regulation as if the amendments of these Regulations made by Schedule 2 to the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 had not been made.
    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) introduced text
  5. The Bill does not repeal laws relating to firearms background checks introduced by the 2026 Act. The Bill does not change the prohibition on importing or exporting certain violent extremist material or material depicting or containing prohibited symbols as implemented under ‘Schedule 1—Customs amendments’ introduced by the 2026 Act. The 2026 Act was passed in January 2026 under a significantly expedited process. Among other things, it established the National Gun Buyback Scheme, expanded background checking arrangements for firearms licensing (including the use of Commonwealth intelligence i
    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum
  6. Item 8 – Transitional rules 15. This item enables the Minister administering a provision inserted or amended by the Schedule to, within six months of the day after this Act receives Royal Assent, make rules, by legislative instrument, prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including saving or application provisions) relating to that insertion or amendment. Rules made under this item are disallowable instruments. 15. Subitem 8(3) provides that the rules made under this item expire at the end of 24 months from the day after the rules are made, or at an earlier time if specified in the r
    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum

Context

Broader context for this bill

Before 2026, firearm licensing, ownership and storage were largely administered by the states and territories, alongside Commonwealth import controls and general criminal law; the 14 December 2025 Bondi terror attack then prompted an expedited federal response. The 2026 Act created a national gun buyback schemeA federal scheme for buying back firearms. and added firearm and customs controls, but national cooperation stalled, with only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory committed by 30 June, prompting David Littleproud MP’s private bill to repeal those changes and restore the earlier position.

  1. 14 Dec 2025

    Bondi terror attack prompts a federal firearms response

    The attack became the stated context for later federal legislation addressing firearms, customs controls and a national buyback scheme.

    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  2. January 2026

    Parliament passes the 2026 firearms and customs law

    The expedited Act established the National Gun Buyback SchemeA federal scheme for buying back firearms., expanded background checks and Commonwealth information-sharing, and introduced new firearms import controls and offences.

    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  3. 22 Jan 2026

    New firearms import requirements take effect

    Australian Border Force said revised import tests, restrictions and police certification requirements would apply to firearms and related goods from this date.

    Australian Border Force ↗
  4. 30 June 2026

    Only NSW and the ACT agree to join the national buyback

    The lack of wider state and territory agreement left licensed firearm owners, dealers and other businesses uncertain about how the scheme would operate.

    Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 (No. 2) explanatory memorandum ↗
  5. 15 Aug 2026

    NSW announces a staged gun buyback after months of disagreement

    New South Wales agreed to begin its buyback in two phases from 2 November, with the state and Commonwealth sharing the cost.

    The Guardian ↗
  6. 16 Aug 2026

    Coalition attacks the stalled buyback as a failed policy

    The public dispute over the scheme’s slow rollout and opposition from other jurisdictions increased pressure to abandon the national approach.

    Sydney Morning Herald ↗
  7. 07 Sept 2026

    David Littleproud MP introduces the repeal bill

    The private member’s bill began its parliamentary journey by proposing to repeal the buyback scheme and reverse specified 2026 firearms and import changes.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 07 Sept 2026

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 07 Sept 2026

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The evidence pack contains no parliamentary debate or opposition speech, so it does not establish any criticism from another party or speaker. The explanatory memorandum acknowledges that some measures being reversed were directed at protecting life and personal safety, but argues that the extra restrictions had not been shown to be necessary and proportionate.

That assessment comes from the explanatory memorandum circulated under David Littleproud's authority. The supplied evidence does not include an opposing account with which to test it.

Further sources

aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

No speeches were found for this bill.

Record

Full record

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