NSW gun buyback faces boycott calls

New South Wales’ firearms buyback is facing calls for a boycott amid reports that just six police stations across the state will initially accept surrendered firearms when the scheme begins on November 2.

The limited collection arrangements have raised questions about how firearm owners in regional and remote areas will participate, while the state’s police union reportedly says it was not consulted about the rollout.

According to The Australian, one station in each of the state’s six police regions will handle collections during the initial phase.

Six collection points raise concerns
With NSW covering more than 800,000km² and licensed firearm owners spread across rural communities, farming districts and regional centres, some may face lengthy journeys beyond their local police districts to reach an authorised collection point.

The NSW Government has confirmed that police will administer the buyback in stages but has yet to publish a complete list of collection locations or detailed instructions for participating firearm owners.

It remains unclear whether additional stations will be included after the initial rollout, while questions have also been raised about how police will receive, document, secure and process surrendered firearms.

Boycott calls and political opposition
The Shooters’ Union has encouraged firearm owners to delay participating in the buyback, according to The Australian, arguing that the scheme could be reversed following the March 2027 NSW election.

SSAA Inc CEO Tom Kenyon has criticised the rushed NSW firearms reforms, arguing that they unfairly penalise law-abiding firearm owners while failing to address the intelligence-sharing and law-enforcement shortcomings exposed by the Bondi terrorist attack.

However, the commencement of the buyback, individual firearm restrictions and applicable surrender deadlines are separate legal matters. Some provisions of the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 are already operating, while others have yet to commence.

A future election does not suspend laws already in force, and licensed owners remain responsible for complying with the requirements applying to their firearms and licences.

NSW Liberal leader Kellie Sloane has pledged to freeze the buyback if the Liberal-Nationals Coalition wins government, alongside establishing a commission of inquiry into the state’s firearms laws.

The Coalition also proposes removing ownership caps for primary producers and competition shooters who can demonstrate a genuine need. The proposed inquiry would also examine a pathway for recreational hunters involved in pest control.

The Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party has separately opposed the reforms, arguing they place additional restrictions on licensed firearm owners without adequately addressing criminal firearm use.

The Minns Government maintains that the changes are necessary to strengthen public safety following the December 2025 Bondi Beach terrorist attack.

Compensation and remaining questions
The NSW Government has published fixed compensation rates for the first phase of the buyback, including $1000 for centrefire rifles and revolvers, $850 for double-barrel shotguns, $650 for single-barrel shotguns, $600 for rimfire rifles and $450 for air rifles.

A second phase, planned for early 2027, will provide a separate compensation pathway for eligible higher-value firearms with an indicative market value above $3000. Payments will be capped at $10,000 per firearm, subject to the scheme’s conditions.

The buyback is expected to operate for an initial 12 months.

The government estimates that up to 274,000 registered firearms and approximately 50,000 licence holders are affected by ownership limits and classification changes, although not every affected firearm will necessarily be surrendered.

The rollout follows months of uncertainty for firearms retailers over stock, compensation and implementation arrangements.

A September survey by the Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia found that participating NSW firearms dealers reported an average revenue decline of 58.8 per cent in the first half of 2026 compared with the same period in 2025. The figures reflect participating businesses rather than independently verified results across the entire industry.

With November 2 approaching, collection arrangements remain a pressing issue, particularly for regional firearm owners.

The NSW Government has not announced a delay to the commencement date and says further information about eligibility, compensation and participation will be provided through its website and direct communication with licensed firearm owners.

Until those details are published, the reported six-station arrangement remains the clearest indication of how initial collections are expected to operate.