The Government's solution? Attacking law-abiding firearms owners.
On 15 August 2026, the NSW Government announced plans to roll out the buyback scheme, with the first phase set to begin on 2 November.
Under the new rules, this could affect up to 50,000 licence holders, with up to 274,000 firearms potentially surrendered. Responsible gun owners who have painstakingly jumped through hoops and navigated confusing bureaucracy to legally own their firearms are now limited to owning just four, at an estimated cost of MILLIONS to the state.
And quite the pinch to the state's pocket. We've crunched the numbers.
Estimated cost to the NSW budget
Estimated Hunting Contribution
Jobs at Risk
Pest Control at Risk per year
Let’s get this straight. Even if every licensed gun owner were to surrender their guns, nothing can stop terrorists from gaining access to guns.
According to independent research:
Involved unlicensed perpetrators with unregistered firearms.
Involved semi-automatic firearms.
Offenders were unlicensed gun owners.
Here's how the buyback affects you even if you've never held a gun before.
That means significant funding that could go towards schools, transport, recreational facilities and more is being directed towards the buyback scheme.
Firearms dealers, shooting clubs and businesses could be at risk of closing when firearms are restricted. That could mean thousands of jobs are threatened, as well as local communities that rely on these businesses.
The cost doesn’t just disappear for farmers. Feral pigs cause significant damage to crops, and when farmers lose the tools they rely on to manage feral pests, crops are left at the mercy of wild pigs. Guess who ultimately foots the bill? You.
The gun buyback sets a significant precedent for how the government can regulate legally owned property – starting with firearms. If these laws proceed, what could they mean for other forms of legally owned property? What else could they limit next?
According to independent research conducted by Tulipwood Economics and commissioned by Shooters Union Australia and the Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia, the benefit-cost ratio of the buyback must return at least $1 in benefits for every $1 spent to be justified.
Based on the evidence, the benefit-cost ratio comes to a staggering:
Even under the deliberate assumption that the buyback prevents ALL future mass shootings, the ratio only comes to:
