Gun owners in Lismore, Ballina, and Tweed Heads will not be able to surrender firearms under the new buyback at their local station until Monday, 8 February 2027, and the rules on who can keep extra guns still are not final.
The National Gun Buyback begins in NSW on Monday, 2 November. Bookings opened at midday on Monday, but only six stations will take surrenders at first: Sutherland, Penrith, Narellan, Grafton, Griffith, and Dubbo.
Grafton is the only North Coast station on the list. Each station will offer up to four appointments a day in November.
Coffs Harbour joins from Tuesday, 1 December, as part of a further 34 stations.
Then comes the long wait. Taree, Forster, Kempsey, Wauchope, Laurieton, and Macksville start on Monday, 18 January 2027. Ballina, Casino, Lismore, Coraki, Kyogle, Nimbin, Tabulam, and Tweed Heads follow on Monday, 8 February 2027.
Bookings for all participating stations open on Tuesday, 24 November for future appointments.
However, the regulation regarding the limit of 10 guns has not been finalised, with exceptions to the rule being considered. NSW Police says targeted consultation on it will begin shortly, and the exemptions are described as a draft proposal.
Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley said the regulations had not yet gone to Parliament.
Under the draft, only licence holders with a genuine reason of sport or target shooting, vertebrate pest animal control, or business or employment could apply for more than 10. They would need to explain the genuine need for each extra firearm.
Primary production is not on that list, although primary producers share the 10-gun cap with those shooting for sport, controlling pests, working in a business, or caring for animals. Licence holders with a genuine reason of recreational hunting or vermin control are capped at four.
Minister Catley pointed to farmers as an example of why someone might need more. She said farmers with several properties, and a gun safe at each, were one case.
“If you are a hunter, then it’s up to four guns,” she said. “If you are a primary producer, a sports target shooter, vertebrate pest control, or business employment, that’s up to 10 guns.”
“Beyond that, you need to have a very good reason, and there is no other way that you would be able to use your current guns for that purpose.”
“However, we have to balance that with the genuine necessary use of firearms, and that is exactly what we’ve done.”
Walk-ins will not be accepted. Eligible licence holders were due to receive letters from the NSW Firearms Registry on Monday, and must book through the Gun Safe portal.
“You must make a booking to surrender,” she said. “You cannot walk into a police station without having an appointment to surrender your weapons.”
About 18 per cent of licence holders will be eligible, and up to 274,000 firearms could be handed in across NSW. The scheme will stay open for 12 months, with compensation paid under a fixed price schedule.
“It’s 10 days from surrender,” she said of payment times.
The scheme follows the Bondi Beach terror attack, in which 15 people were killed.
“Fewer guns in the community mean a safer community,” she said.
“It means fewer guns at risk to fall into the wrong hands.”
Gun shop owners and other businesses will be able to get a one-off $25,000 in business support, she said.
Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said the buyback was not aimed at responsible licence holders.
“The firearms buyback is not about saying that registered and responsible firearm holders can’t have firearms,” he said.
“It is simply about limiting the number of firearms that are in the community.”
For more information, visit https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/online_services/firearms/national_gun_buyback_scheme or call 1800 131 555, between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday.
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