Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026: what it proposes

The short answer

Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026: what it proposes

The Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026 is a private senator's bill introduced by Senator Bridget McKenzie on 13 August 2026. It would repeal the provisions creating the National Gun Buyback Scheme and restore Commonwealth law relating to firearms and the importation of firearms to the position that applied immediately before the commencement of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026. The explanatory memorandum states the bill would not repeal laws relating to firearms background checks introduced by the 2026 Act, and would not change the prohibition on importing or exporting certain violent extremist material or material depicting or containing prohibited symbols. As introduced, the bill was read a first time in the Senate on 13 August 2026 and the second reading was moved the same day. It is before the Senate and has not been enacted.

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Evidence review

What the bill would do

The bill would repeal the National Gun Buyback Scheme and reverse most of the firearms-related amendments made by the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 (the 2026 Act), restoring the relevant Commonwealth laws to their position immediately before that Act commenced.

According to the explanatory memorandum, Schedule 1 of the bill would reverse amendments relating to: the transmission of firearms information and other information to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission; public safety tests for firearms and weapons; the importation of firearms; approved forms for police certification of firearms imports; and offences relating to the use of a carriage service for firearms and explosives manufacture material.

The bill would not repeal laws relating to firearms background checks introduced by the 2026 Act, and would not change the prohibition on importing or exporting violent extremist material or material depicting or containing prohibited symbols implemented under Schedule 1 (Customs amendments) of the 2026 Act.

Evidence review

The 2026 Act and the National Gun Buyback Scheme

The 2026 Act was passed in January 2026 under a significantly expedited process. Among other things, it established the National Gun Buyback Scheme, expanded background checking arrangements for firearms licensing (including the use of Commonwealth intelligence in licensing decisions), imposed new controls on the importation of firearms and related articles, and created new offences relating to the use of a carriage service for firearms and explosives manufacture material.

The explanatory memorandum states that the operation of those measures depends substantially on the cooperation of the states and territories, which are responsible for the licensing, ownership, use and storage of firearms, and that only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory agreed to participate in the National Gun Buyback Scheme by the Government's deadline of 30 June 2026.

The memorandum says the result is continuing uncertainty for licensed firearm owners, licensed dealers and other affected businesses, and that the bill addresses that uncertainty by returning the law to its previous, settled position.

Evidence review

Who the bill would affect

The bill would primarily affect licensed firearm owners, licensed dealers and businesses involved in the importation and supply of firearms, by removing the buyback scheme and reversing the related Commonwealth amendments.

It would also affect Commonwealth agencies with roles in the reversed measures, including the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Department of Home Affairs, whose new import control activities were funded in the 2026-27 Budget.

Evidence review

Financial impact

The explanatory memorandum states the bill would reduce Commonwealth expenditure. Repealing the National Gun Buyback Scheme would remove the Commonwealth's undisclosed share of the cost of that scheme contained within the contingency reserve, together with the administrative and compliance costs of the reversed measures across Commonwealth agencies.

The memorandum notes the total savings have not been quantified but include funding of around $5.8 million per year ongoing to the Department of Home Affairs announced in the 2026-27 Budget to implement new import control activities for firearms and gel blasters and establish the National Firearms Safety Council.

The explanatory memorandum also states that the bill would not change the prohibition on importing or exporting certain violent extremist material or material depicting or containing prohibited symbols, and that background check arrangements introduced by the 2026 Act are outside the scope of the repeal. The bill instead targets the buyback scheme and the specific amendments listed in its Schedule, returning those parts of Commonwealth firearms law to their pre-2026 position.

Evidence review

Commencement

The bill provides that sections 1 to 3, and anything in the Act not elsewhere covered by the commencement table, would commence on the day the Act receives Royal Assent, and that Schedule 1 would commence the day after Royal Assent.

The bill has not yet passed the Senate or the House of Representatives, and has not received Royal Assent.

Evidence review

Parliamentary status

The bill was introduced in the Senate and read a first time on 13 August 2026, with the second reading moved the same day by Senator McKenzie. It is listed as before the Senate in the 48th Parliament.

To become law, the bill would need to pass the Senate, be agreed to by the House of Representatives, and receive Royal Assent. As a private senator's bill, it does not form part of the government's legislative program.

Common questions

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