38,000 Guns Surrendered to the Government in Western Australia

Customers shop for firearms in a gun store in Austin, Texas, on Aug. 25, 2023. Brandon Bell/Getty Images

Western Australians have given back 38,000 guns to authorities under the Labor government’s $64.3 million buyback program.

The firearms were surrendered in return for up to $1,000 each ahead of the government’s strict new gun laws coming into force in March 2025.

Gun ownership is already tightly regulated in Western Australia and across the country, requiring individuals to have a valid reason to own a gun, such as hunting, shooting, or primary production.

More than 20.500 licence holders handed back their weapons under the buyback scheme, which ran over six months.

“Over the duration of the six-month program, 3,195 handguns, 9,908 shotguns, and 25,339 rifles were surrendered with over half of the firearms purchased from licence holders in the metropolitan area. A further 449 guns were sold interstate,” the government said.

Premier Touts a Safer State

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook said fewer guns, coupled with more robust regulation and monitoring of firearm use, means a “safer WA for all.”

“My government has created the toughest gun laws in the nation and we are delivering on our commitment to enhance public safety by removing unnecessary guns from the community,” he said.

“By their very design, guns were created to end life. Therefore, it is essential we limit access to them in the community and have strict processes in place to monitor and regulate their use.”

The Labor government said total gun licences in Western Australia have now slid by 6,000 from 88,132 in February 2024 to 82,065 now. The state has a population of about 2.5 million people.

Police Minister Paul Papalia confirmed that the WA Police Force had already destroyed 21,000 guns with the remainder to follow in coming weeks.

“The response to the State Government-funded voluntary gun buyback has been overwhelmingly positive with more than 10 percent of the total number of licensed guns in Western Australia surrendered for destruction,” he said.

“Our new Firearms Act will help improve safety for decades to come. I'd like to thank the WA Police Force for its tireless efforts to ensure the buyback progressed seamlessly throughout the state.”

However, Opposition leader Shane Love said the government was pulling media stunts yet again. He said the Police Minister had used taxpayer funds to blow up firearms surrendered through the buyback scheme.

“If this Minister was as serious about community safety as he is about media antics, maybe we’d have firearm legislation that’s fit for purpose,” Love said.

Out of the $64 million that was allocated to the program, only $15 million has been paid to gun owners.

What Are the Tough New Gun Laws?

Western Australian parliament passed the strictest gun laws in Australian in June 2024, limiting gun numbers. The new Firearms Act will be enforced via a phased approach from March 2025. The Firearms Act 2024 (pdf) will limit the number of guns an individual can own depending on licence type. Recreational hunters will be restricted to five guns, while primary producers and competition shooters will be able to own up to 10.

The new laws will require gun owners to undergo a regular health assessment, including a check for mental health, and comply with new storage requirements.

Any individual who decides to apply for a gun licence will be required to undertake “mandatory firearms training.”

The legislation is supported by a new digital licence scheme that will provide police with real-time access to gun licence details.

This is the first time Western Australian firearm laws elevated public safety above the “privilege of owning a gun,” Labor Premier Roger Cook said.

“I’m unapologetic for our safety-first approach which strengthens gun controls and enhances public safety. Sadly, in recent years, we’ve seen the devastating consequences resulting from the misuse of firearms in our community,” he said.

Member of the Legislative Council (MLC) for the South West region Steve Thomas voted with the Nationals in opposing the legislation in parliament.

He said he believed the government and sections of the media have used this process as an opportunity to “instill fear into the population.”

“The government has deliberately tried to make people frightened to deliver the political outcome that it wanted. That is both incredibly unfortunate and dangerous,” he said.

Nationals MLC for the agricultural region Martin Aldridge raised concerns about the police exemption from the Firearms Act.