Why Australia has more guns than ever
5/2/202616 min
In December last year, in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, Anthony Albanese promised the biggest national gun buyback since Port Arthur.
He wanted states and territories to agree to new gun laws by March and legislate them by July. But that first deadline has passed – and the national response is fracturing.
Queensland and the Northern Territory are refusing the buyback, Tasmania is rejecting a cap on the number of firearms a person can own, and a national register is not expected to be running until 2028.
The Royal Commission into Antisemitism has also weighed in, saying Australia should waste no time in implementing the buyback.
So today, 30 years after Port Arthur, we’re returning to our January episode – where Nicole Johnston speaks with Ebony Bennett from the Australia Institute on why Australia has more guns than ever, and why reform is still so difficult.
This episode was originally published in January, 2026.
If you enjoy 7am, the best way you can support us is by making a contribution at 7ampodcast.com.au/support.
Socials: Stay in touch with us on Instagram
Guest: Deputy director at The Australia Institute, Ebony Bennett
Photo: AAP Image/Joel Carrett
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Clips
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsDaniel James· Host0:00
[gentle music] I'm Daniel James, and you're listening to 7AM. In December last year, in the wake of the Bondi terror attack, Anthony Albanese promised the biggest national gun buyback since Port Arthur. He wanted the states and territories to agree to new gun laws by March and legislate them by July. But that first deadline has passed, and the national response is fracturing. Queensland and the Northern Territory are refusing the buyback. Tasmania is rejecting a cap on the number of firearms a person can own, and a national register is not expected to be running until 2028. The Royal Commission into Antisemitism has also weighed in, saying Australia should waste no time implementing the buyback. So today, 30 years after Port Arthur, we're returning to our January episode, when Nicole Johnston speaks with Ebony Bennett from the Australia Institute on why Australia has more guns than ever and why reform is still so difficult. It's Sunday, May 3.
Nicole Johnston· Host1:06
Ebony, thanks for speaking with me. Can you lay out for me what the government's proposing?
Ebony Bennett· Guest1:16
Well, after the Bondi massacre last year, National Cabinet met and agreed to a number of gun law reforms, and now the government is implementing a bill that will hold up its end of the bargain