New South Wales has opened bookings for a firearm buyback scheme ahead of the first surrender appointments on November 2. The state government's October 26 announcement says eligible licence holders can book from midday, with six police stations participating initially and further locations joining in stages over the following months.
The scheme is scheduled to run for 12 months. It covers eligible surplus or reclassified firearms affected by the state's firearms reforms, with compensation based on a fixed schedule. The government estimates about 18 per cent of licence holders could participate and up to 274,000 firearms could be returned. Those are estimates, not a count of items already surrendered.
Appointments start at six stations
The launch announcement names Sutherland, Penrith and Narellan alongside Grafton, Griffith and Dubbo as the first participating stations. Appointments at those locations start on Monday, November 2. Eligible licence holders are to receive correspondence from the NSW Firearms Registry explaining the booking arrangements, rather than simply arriving at a station.
NSW Police says participants must use Gun Safe to submit a surrender application and obtain a registration case number before making a booking. Its public scheme guidance warns against taking firearms or ammunition to a station without a confirmed appointment. Only participating locations accept scheme appointments. The opening of bookings therefore does not establish a walk-in surrender service at every police station.
A second stage is scheduled to begin on December 1, adding 34 stations according to the ministerial announcement. Bookings for all later stages are due to open on November 24. The rollout then moves to a third stage on January 18, 2027 and a fourth on February 8, extending the participating network across metropolitan and regional NSW.
The later stages include locations in the Hunter, New England and Riverina, followed by the state's far west and South Coast. Residents should check the official station list and the date attached to their location, since the opening date for bookings is separate from the date on which a station starts receiving surrendered items.
Buyback sits alongside ownership reforms
The government presents the programme as a way to reduce the number of firearms in circulation and remove weapons that will no longer be permitted under its reforms. The package includes reclassification measures and ownership caps, alongside stronger identity checks and changes to the administration of gun clubs. The buyback itself is a surrender programme, not an application to acquire a firearm.
In its summary of the reforms, the government identifies a four-firearm limit for recreational hunting or vermin control. It describes a 10-firearm limit for other specified purposes, including sport and target shooting, primary production and animal welfare. The applicable category and legislative commencement matter: NSW Police says the reclassification provisions are not yet in force and will commence on proclamation on dates to be determined.
Other announced reforms include reducing the standard licence period from five years to two, requiring membership of an approved gun club and moving clubs to the Gun Safe online platform. Mandatory safe-storage checks before a permit to acquire is issued also form part of the package. These are policy changes described by the government, not confirmation that every provision took effect on October 26.
Consultation and later payment pathway remain ahead
The state also plans targeted consultation on a regulation allowing applications for additional firearms in limited circumstances above the 10-firearm cap. The draft proposal covers specified licence holders involved in sport or target shooting, vertebrate pest animal control, or business and employment. Applicants would need to explain the genuine need for each additional firearm. The announcement does not describe this consultation proposal as an unrestricted exemption.
NSW Police separately lists an alternative valuation pathway for eligible higher-value firearms planned for early 2027. Further requirements and timing are still to be published. Its guidance says eligible payments under the standard process will generally be processed within 10 business days after validation, and that surrendered firearms are forfeited to the Crown and cannot be returned.
The government has allocated A$42.8 million to the Firearms Registry for additional staff and system upgrades supporting the reforms. People seeking help with scheme participation can use the published NSW buyback information or its helpline, 1800 131 555, which the launch announcement lists as operating Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm.
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NSW Government announcement material adapted under CC BY 4.0. © State of New South Wales. For current information go to www.nsw.gov.au. Independently written, without government endorsement.
