18 August, 2026
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS (15:49): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before addressing a question without notice to the Attorney-General on the topic of the National Gun Buyback Scheme.
Leave granted.
The Hon. R.A. SIMMS: After the 14 December Bondi Beach terror attack that claimed 15 lives, the commonwealth announced a National Gun Buyback Scheme. Yesterday, the Treasurer announced that South Australia will not be taking part unless the commonwealth government covers the full costs of the scheme. My questions to the Attorney-General therefore are:
1. Does he really believe cost shifting is a sufficient reason to reject a public safety measure designed to reduce the number of firearms in circulation?
2. Isn't it a cop-out for South Australia to leave other states like New South Wales to do the heavy lifting? Why isn't South Australia participating?
The Hon. K.J. MAHER (Deputy Premier, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Attorney-General, Minister for Industrial Relations, Minister for Arts, Special Minister of State) (15:50): I thank the honourable member for his question. This falls under the Minister for Police. I am happy to check to see if this is correct, but I am not aware of any other jurisdiction except New South Wales that is taking part in this particular buyback scheme.
For various reasons, different jurisdictions—I think particularly Queensland and Northern Territory—have their own different views, but I am not sure that any other state than New South Wales has committed to it, particularly without it being a commonwealth initiative with significant commonwealth funding. If I have heard a report correctly on the New South Wales scheme, they are anticipating it will cost hundreds of millions of dollars just in New South Wales alone, but I am happy to check those figures and bring back further information if they are wrong.