Premier says gun buyback 'a price worth paying', will fight for it at the ballot

NSW Premier Chris Minns and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese have formally announced a gun buyback "bigger than the Howard-era" scheme. The reforms are part of legislation passed after the Bondi Beach terror attack in December last year aimed at a quarter of the state's 1.2 million gun owners. The premier said he would fight for the issue at the ballot box should the NSW Liberals and One Nation continue to oppose the laws. NSW Premier Chris Minns has vowed to fight opposition parties at next year's election over a new gun buyback scheme, saying the issue is "too important for NSW". The premier and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Sunday morning formally announced plans that would see an estimated 274,000 guns taken off the streets. The scheme is set to take more firearms out of circulation than the post-Port Arthur massacre buyback, the premier said. From November 2, those in breach on firearm possession limits could return their guns for up to $1000. By early next year that figure would rise to a cap of $10,000 for those with firearms with a market value of more than $3000. The reforms, part of "phase one" of post-Bondi Beach terror attack laws, are opposed by One Nation who have planned to repeal the legislation should they win office in the state. "One Nation said they're scrapping all this … all the laws … so it is on the ballot whether we want it or not," Mr Minns said. "This is too important for NSW. "We're ready to fight an election on it, not that we want that, we're not changing our position and voters ought to know that when they cast their ballot." When asked how much the scheme would cost taxpayers, Mr Minns said it could be "hundreds of millions of dollars". "It is largely demand driven, the costs are split 50/50 so we don't have an exact cost today but its hundreds of millions of dollars," he said. "I'm not gonna skirt it, it's expensive. But it's a price worth paying." 'Farcical' rules in other states Prime Minister Anthony Albanese heralded the joint state and federal government scheme as "taking guns off our streets". When asked if other states would follow, Mr Albanese called out the "farcical" firearms legislation in other parts of the nation. "I think it is somewhat farcical that some states were still … having paper licences that therefore couldn't be traced," Mr Albanese said. NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley warned the changes would impact about a quarter of the state's 1.2 million firearms licence holders. In response, NSW opposition leader Kellie Sloane accused the government of failing to address "legitimate concerns" about the gun buyback scheme. "Following the Bondi terrorist attack, the NSW Liberals supported reforms to strengthen community safety," Ms Sloane said. "We also made clear that Labor needed to consult in good faith and ensure its rushed laws did not create serious unintended consequences.