15/08/2026
National Gun Buyback Scheme- NSW
NSW will participate in the National Gun Buyback Scheme from 2 November 2026
New South Wales will be the first state to commence the Commonwealth Government’s National Gun Buyback Scheme, with both governments agreeing to share the costs of the buyback 50:50.
The Buyback Scheme will be implemented in phases in New South Wales, with Phase 1 commencing 2 November 2026. It will provide compensation for eligible fi****ms affected by firearm limits and classification changes introduced under the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025, and ammunition.
The NSW Government will provide further information on eligibility, compensation arrangements and participation in due course, on this webpage and through direct contact with licensed firearm owners.
Phase 1 of the NSW Buyback Scheme will include a fixed price schedule for individual licence holders, who are above the new legal limit for their licence, to return their fi****ms in exchange for fair compensation.
Gun type Gun sub-type Payment under the Buyback Scheme
Handgun Revolver $1,000
Semi-automatic $850
Shotgun Double barrel $850
Single barrel $650
Rifle Rimfire $600
Centrefire $1,000
Air rifle $450
Phase 2 of the NSW Buyback Scheme, commencing in early 2027, will provide a pathway to compensation, for a fee, for eligible higher-value fi****ms with an indicative market value above $3,000, capped at $10,000 per firearm.
NSW Government firearm reforms
Following the antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025, the NSW Government introduced the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Act 2025 which includes the toughest firearm reforms in a generation.
Key elements of the reforms include capping and restricting the number and type of fi****ms a person can own, strengthening checks on people seeking to own fi****ms and reducing the licence period from five years to two.
These fi****ms reforms strengthen oversight, reduce risk and help keep the community safe.
The NSW Government is also investing more than $42.8 million over 10 years into the NSW Fi****ms Registry, including additional staff and system upgrades to support the implementation of these reforms and the Buyback Scheme.
The Buyback Scheme is informed by the Interim Report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion’s recommendations to prioritise efforts to finalise and implement an updated and nationally consistent National Fi****ms Agreement (Recommendation 13) and Buyback Scheme (Recommendation 14).
Industry support
The Buyback Scheme in NSW will also provide financial assistance for businesses and industry to adjust to the reforms.
This industry support package will launch alongside Phase 1 of the Buyback Scheme on 2 November 2026.
It will include:
Up to $25,000 in business support grants for eligible businesses and dealers
One-off licence fee relief for eligible gun dealers in NSW, worth $500 over two years per dealer.
Advisory support for all gun dealers and businesses in NSW.
More information about support for dealers and businesses will be released in the coming weeks.
The NSW Small Business Commission will host a roundtable to provide information to eligible businesses and dealers about the industry support grants and other support available. As part of the roundtable, the Commission will engage with small businesses to understand the impact of this change and their needs for support during the transition.
