Following the tragic shooting at a Sydney Hanukkah festival that claimed 15 lives, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced that Australia’s capital, Canberra, will participate in a national gun buyback scheme. This initiative, part of a broader government crackdown on hate-fueled violence, aims to tighten firearm licensing and improve public safety. New South Wales had previously committed to the program, which is scheduled to launch on November 2, and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) has now agreed to follow suit in a unified effort to prevent future antisemitic terror attacks.

The government’s decision stems from the December 14 incident at Bondi Beach, where a father and son—reportedly inspired by Daesh—used legally acquired firearms to carry out the massacre. With over 4 million guns currently registered across Australia, this buyback represents the most significant push for firearm reduction since the 1996 Port Arthur tragedy. While the ACT currently oversees roughly 23,000 firearms, officials have yet to confirm a specific start date for the local buyback as they coordinate with the federal government to ensure these weapons are permanently removed from circulation.