The NSW Government will introduce tough new gun control laws into Parliament following the Bondi Beach terror attack, aiming to significantly tighten firearms regulations and reduce the risk of mass violence.
The reforms, which respond directly to lessons from the attack, would make NSW’s firearms laws the toughest in the country if passed.
Measures include capping most gun owners at four firearms, with exemptions allowing primary producers and sports shooters to hold up to 10.
Several firearm types, including straight-pull and pump-action weapons, will be reclassified into Category C, while magazine capacities will be reduced and belt-fed firearms banned.
Firearms licensing will also be tightened, with licence terms reduced from five years to two, licences restricted to Australian citizens with limited exemptions, and the removal of the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal review pathway to allow police to rely on sensitive intelligence.
Mandatory gun club membership, stricter storage inspections and enhanced police oversight will also be introduced.
A comprehensive firearms buyback scheme, run in partnership with the Federal Government and the AFP, will accompany the reforms to remove newly illegal weapons from the community.
Premier Chris Minns said: “We cannot undo what happened in Bondi, but we can act decisively to reduce the risk of this ever happening again. These reforms are about one thing: protecting people.”
Police Minister Yasmin Catley said community safety must come first, adding: “Owning a firearm is a privilege, not a right.”
