‘Stunning backflip’: NSW opposition criticised for pledge to scrap gun buyback scheme if elected
News Source
•Sat, 19 Sep 2026 04:24:02 GMT
📰 What Happened
The NSW Liberals say they would freeze the state's gun buyback if they win next year. Opposition leader Kellie Sloane announced the plan on Saturday. She wants a public inquiry into gun laws first.
The buyback begins on 2 November. It pays owners for guns that are now banned or limited. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley called the Liberal plan a 'stunning backflip'. She said it would leave more guns in the community.
🔍 The Backstory
The rules came in after 15 people were shot dead at Bondi Beach in December 2025. It was the worst terror attack in NSW history. Last year the Liberals voted with the government to support a buyback.
Sloane says Labor rushed the laws without talking to farmers, shooters and gun shops. Her plan also raises the top penalty for gun trafficking from 20 years to life in prison.
🎯 Why It Matters
Gun laws affect everyone's safety. This fight shows how quickly a major safety plan can change if a new government is elected.
The NSW Liberals say they would freeze the state's gun buyback if they win next year. Opposition leader Kellie Sloane announced the plan on Saturday. She wants a public inquiry into gun laws first.
The buyback begins on 2 November. It pays owners for guns that are now banned or limited. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley called the Liberal plan a 'stunning backflip'. She said it would leave more guns in the community.
The rules came in after 15 people were shot dead at Bondi Beach in December 2025. It was the worst terror attack in NSW history. Last year the Liberals voted with the government to support a buyback.
Sloane says Labor rushed the laws without talking to farmers, shooters and gun shops. Her plan also raises the top penalty for gun trafficking from 20 years to life in prison.
Gun laws affect everyone's safety. This fight shows how quickly a major safety plan can change if a new government is elected.