More firearms may remain in circulation
Repealing the buyback could prevent a reduction in the roughly four million legally owned firearms, despite expert warnings that rising gun numbers increased the risk of tragedy.
Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws)
Current status
This bill is currently before Parliament.
Policy area
Government & democracy
What does this bill do?
Licensed firearm owners would no longer be covered by the National Gun Buyback SchemeA government program for surrendering firearms for payment. because the bill would repeal it.
Why was it introduced?
Senator Bridget McKenzie of the Nationals said the earlier laws unfairly targeted almost one million licensed firearm owners after the Bondi attack. She said only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory had joined the national buyback, leaving owners and businesses uncertain. The bill's supporting document also says repeal would save money, including about $5.8 million a year budgeted for new import controls and the National Firearms Safety Council, a proposed firearms policy body.
Broader context
Australia already had state and territory firearms licensing regimes, Commonwealth import controls and general criminal law, but the 14 December 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack prompted the 2026 Act to add a national buyback, tougher background checks and new firearms controls. With national agreement failing and only New South Wales and the ACT joining by the 30 June deadline, licensed owners and businesses faced uncertainty, so Senator Bridget McKenzie introduced this private bill on 13 August 2026 to repeal the buyback and restore pre-2026 Commonwealth rules while keeping enhanced checks and extremist-material import bans.
Key criticism
The evidence pack contains no speech criticising this bill. Its debate material records Senator Bridget McKenzie of the Nationals arguing that the earlier laws were rushed, lacked relevant evidence and harmed lawful firearm businesses.
Who supported it?
Senator Bridget McKenzie introduced this bill. Supportive speeches so far have come from Nationals.
Introduced in Senate 13 Aug 2026
At second reading in Senate 13 Aug 2026
Not yet reached House —
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
54 days
Updated 06 Oct 2026.
Meaning
What does this bill do?
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Licensed firearm owners would no longer be covered by the National Gun Buyback SchemeA government program for surrendering firearms for payment. because the bill would repeal it.
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Firearm importers would return to the import rules that applied before the January 2026 changes.
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People sharing gun-making or explosives-making instructions online would no longer face the offences created in 2026.
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Firearm owners would keep the expanded background checks, including checks using national security information.
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Customs officials could no longer share firearm information under the special information-sharing powers added in 2026.
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People importing or exporting violent extremist material or banned symbols would see no change to those restrictions.
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Government ministers could make temporary rules to manage the changeover. New rules must be made within six months and can last no more than 24 months.
Show source excerpts
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Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 7 Division 1 of Part 1 of Schedule 2 Repeal the Division.
Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) introduced text -
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) introduced text -
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) introduced text -
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.
Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) explanatory memorandum -
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) introduced text -
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 in licensing decisions), imposed new controls on the importation of firearms and related articles,
Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) explanatory memorandum -
9 Transitional rules (1) This item applies in relation to a provision of an Act or instrument inserted or amended by another item of this Schedule. (2) The Minister administering the provision may, by legislative instrument, make rules prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to that insertion or amendment of the provision. Expiry of rules (3) Rules made under subitem (2) are repealed: (a) at the end of the period of 24 months beginning on the day after the rules are made; or (b) if the rules specify an earlier tim
Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) introduced text
Context
Broader context for this bill
Australia already had state and territory firearms licensing regimes, Commonwealth import controls and general criminal law, but the 14 December 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack prompted the 2026 Act to add a national buyback, tougher background checks and new firearms controls. With national agreement failing and only New South Wales and the ACT joining by the 30 June deadline, licensed owners and businesses faced uncertainty, so Senator Bridget McKenzie introduced this private bill on 13 August 2026 to repeal the buyback and restore pre-2026 Commonwealth rules while keeping enhanced checks and extremist-material import bans.
- 14 Dec 2025
Bondi Beach terrorist attack prompts national firearms reforms
The attack killed 15 people and became the stated reason for fast-tracked national gun and hate-crime reforms.
Reuters ↗ - 20 Jan 2026
Parliament enacts tougher firearms laws
The new law established the National Gun Buyback SchemeA government program for surrendering firearms for payment., tighter firearms-licensing background checks and additional firearm and import controls.
Reuters ↗ - 25 May 2026
Victoria rejects the gun buyback
Victoria instead agreed to restrict firearms to Australian citizens and strengthen intelligence sharing, underscoring the difficulty of securing a common national response.
Australian Financial Review ↗ - 30 June 2026
Buyback deadline passes without national agreement
Only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory had agreed to participate, leaving licensed firearm owners, dealers and affected businesses uncertain.
Australian Parliament House ↗ - 13 Aug 2026
Senator Bridget McKenzie introduces the repeal bill
The private bill proposed repealing the National Gun Buyback SchemeA government program for surrendering firearms for payment. and restoring Commonwealth firearms and import laws to their pre-2026 position while retaining enhanced background checks and extremist-material import bans.
Parliamentary timeline ↗
Legislative route
How did it move through Parliament?
House Senate
Introduced 13 Aug 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 13 Aug 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 speech criticising this bill. Its debate material records Senator Bridget McKenzie of the Nationals arguing that the earlier laws were rushed, lacked relevant evidence and harmed lawful firearm businesses.
No government, Labor or crossbench response to the bill is included, so the pack does not establish their views. McKenzie's speech says the earlier measures were intended to remove guns from the streets, but she argued they targeted lawful owners rather than illegal guns.
Further sources
Votes
Recorded votes
No recorded votes have been found yet for this bill.
Parliamentary debate
Who spoke, and what they said
Start here — lead voices
Lead supporting voice Supports
Bridget McKenzie
McKenzie supports the bill because it would repeal the national gun buyback and import restrictions that she says unfairly burden law-abiding firearm owners without evidence that they would have prevented the Bondi attack, while retaining enhanced security checks and prohibitions on extremist material.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
Coalition
1 speaker · 1 support
Coalition
1 speaker · 1 support
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Bridget McKenzie ★ McKenzie supports the bill because it would repeal the national gun buyback and import restrictions that she says unfairly burden law-abiding firearm owners without evidence that they would have prevented the Bondi attack, while retaining enhanced security checks and prohibitions on extremist material.
“And stop giving tacit approval to antisemitic behaviour in this country. This Bill restores commonsense to Australia's firearms laws.”
Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
Full record
- Status
- Before Senate -- Collected from the APH bill page.
- Originating house
- Senate
- 13 Aug 2026
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
- 13 Aug 2026
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.