The federal government’s proposed national firearms buyback continues to flounder, failing to gain traction in the majority of states and territories while wreaking havoc on the lawful shooting industry and regional small businesses.
Despite an extended deadline, the ‘national buyback’ is anything but. Initially slated to be adopted in early April, the July 1 deadline has also passed.
Victoria, Queensland, Northern Territory, South Australia and Tasmania have rejected the proposed gun buyback outright. Western Australia’s own controversial buyback has come and gone. While the ACT and NSW plan to adopt the buyback, as yet both lack detail of its composition.
Even in New South Wales, where Premier Chris Minns has pursued the reforms, the state’s 2026 budget quietly passed without allocating funding for the buyback, nor the promised compensation for businesses already suffering from devastating financial losses of up to 80%, by the sweeping legislative changes.
Compounding this uncertainty, the NSW firearms registry is buckling under the weight of backed up license applications, variations and permits – failing to deliver basic administrative services. Bureaucratic delays have caused processing times for routine Permits to Acquire (even when a licensee holds an existing firearm in the same category) to blow out well beyond 120 days.
Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia (SIFA) CEO James Walsh said the delays are pushing lawful operators to the brink.
“No other industry in this country would be expected to absorb this much change without support.” He said. “The buyback hasn’t just failed, the proposal of it alone has caused a massive stand-still on the industry.”
The result on the industry is gridlock, with small business concerned about shutting their doors permanently.
“Downstream businesses are hanging on by a thread,” Mr Walsh said. “The industry is rightfully used to navigating regulation, but these business owners have done nothing wrong, and they’re at real risk of going out of business.”
Mr Walsh said that the loss of businesses isn’t just a human impact story but runs counter to administrating the government’s own regulation.
“Local firearms dealers aren’t just retailers; they’re a critical cog in Australia’s regulatory machine. They enforce and maintain strict statutory requirements for safe storage, ensure compliance, and keep firearms registries properly updated.”
This regulatory failure is having a disproportionate impact on regional areas where firearms are more than sport or a pastime, but also essential agricultural tools. In a recent address to Parliament, Federal Member for Calare, Andrew Gee MP shared two constituent examples to illustrate the severe toll this uncertainty is taking on country communities.
“In regional communities, firearms are part of everyday life,” Mr Gee said. “They are used responsibly in farming, pest control, and sporting activities. They are tools of trade and tradition, managed under strict licensing and regulation.”
At Bullets & Bits in Orange store operators Ray Hawkins and Matt Shirm reported that firearm sales have plummeted from 3 to 5 per week down to just 15 sales over an entire six-month period. Trapped in commercial leases and unable to move pre-ordered 2027 stock, they have been forced to cut staff hours just to keep the doors open.
At Mudgee Firearms owner Shane reported that trade is down by 80% to 85%. While regional locals continue to complete essential Firearm Safety Training courses, everything stalls indefinitely afterward because of the broken permit process. Shane has been forced to take on secondary outside work just to keep his staff employed.
The national consensus sought by the Commonwealth has failed to materialise. Earlier this year, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland told ABC Radio that the buyback would “not be effective in its current form,” noting that; “It’s only effective if it does have that national context.”
Mr Walsh said that the proposed buyback was targeting the wrong people.
“The buyback will not take a single firearm out of the hands of criminals or terrorists. What it has done is hurt lawful business owners, their workers, and the farmers feeding and clothing our nation who are bearing the brunt of it.” he said.
SIFA is calling for genuine consultation and collaboration with the shooting industry to ensure sustainable pathways forward for the legal operation of the trade.
“This whole time, industry has stood ready to help shape policy that would actually work to protect Australians, whether they’re part of the industry or not,” Mr Walsh said. “We think it’s time that the government admitted this has failed and finally started listening.”
For further information please contact:
James Walsh
CEO
Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia
M: 0419 933 066
E: james.walsh@sifa.net.au