For the good of the nation, gun buyback must proceed

July 25, 2026 — 5:00am

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In the shadow of grief and shock following the Port Arthur massacre, Australia rose to its best self as political leaders forged a bipartisan consensus that became the envy of the world.

Led by then-prime minister John Howard, the nation chose public safety over gun proliferation. Over just one year, 644,000 semi-automatic and pump-action firearms – one-third of all privately owned guns at the time – were handed over and destroyed.

Three decades on, something has gone horribly wrong with our politics. Despite the deadliest terrorist attack in Australian history playing out at Bondi Beach in December last year, we have not been able to again rise to the moment, and for that there is plenty of blame to go around.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese must shoulder much of the responsibility. He promised a fresh national gun buyback but has failed to deliver.

It is true that most states and territories have refused........

© The Age