National Firearms Agreement updated

States and territories have agreed to update the National Firearms Agreement, but most jurisdictions have still not committed to a gun buyback scheme.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Australia’s Premiers and Chief Ministers met in Sydney on Wednesday for National Cabinet.

During the meeting, it was agreed that the following changes would be made to the National Firearms Agreement:

• The Commonwealth will share criminal intelligence with states and territories
• Australian citizenship is a condition of holding a firearms license, subject to agreed exceptions
• The manufacture and possession of 3D-printed firearms will be prohibited, along with the distribution of material for manufacturing 3D firearms

It is the first time the National Firearms Agreement has been updated or amended.

A communique released following the National Cabinet meeting stated that reforms will improve public safety by strengthening the safe and responsible possession and use of firearms.

“Governments will continue to accelerate the implementation of the National Firearms Register and work together to finalise implementation arrangements for criminal and security intelligence sharing.

“The Commonwealth stands ready to support states and territories which choose to implement a National Gun Buyback Scheme to purchase surplus and newly restricted firearms, as per Recommendation 14 of the Interim Report of the Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion.”

New South Wales and the ACT are the only jurisdictions to join the federal gun buyback, with Western Australia having implemented its own scheme.