Thanks to participants in firearms buyback
by Hon Daryl Williams AM QC MP
Attorney-General and Minister for Justice
26 August 1997
As the Australian Firearms Buyback nears its conclusion on September 30, detailed research into the program shows thanks are due to Australian firearms owners who have responded in an overwhelmingly positive manner to the new laws.
Research clearly shows that the program has successfully removed the bulk of now prohibited firearms from the Australian community and fundamentally changed community attitudes towards dangerous firearms.
About three-quarters of Australians who 12 months ago owned firearms which are now prohibited under new laws have handed in those firearms under the Australian Firearms Buyback.
The research into the effectiveness of the buyback, general reactions to the new laws and the general state of firearms ownership shows that the program has worked well and that the vast majority of people are respecting the new laws.
The research shows that the vast majority of Australians who do own a firearm now own a legal firearm and that more than 8 in 10 current firearms owners would hand in an illegal firearm if they had one.
Research has also revealed that nine per cent or 1.2 million Australian adults own firearms and there are approximately 2.5 million firearms in private ownership in Australia.
Prior to the National Firearms Agreement, differing or non-existent registration and licensing laws meant that there were no accurate figures on the numbers of firearms in Australia but this research shows that there are substantially fewer firearms than the 4 to 10 million predicted by some opponents to the new laws.
So far 506,399 firearms have been handed to authorities.* This is a significant achievement, thanks to the commonsense and decency of law-abiding firearms owners and the hard work of each State and Territory, and it is a source of significant national pride.
After September 30** people will no longer have the opportunity to be compensated for handing in prohibited firearms.
The overwhelming positive result of the 1996 National Firearms Agreement and the amnesty and buyback is a positive one for our nation. Since 10 May 1996, each State and Territory in Australia has instituted the most comprehensive reform of firearms laws in Australia's history.
Total awareness of the new laws is virtually universal with 96% of people aware of the laws.
Importantly there continues to be strong support for the firearms reform which has taken place with 78% of all adult Australians in favour of the laws and 56% of people strongly in favour of the new laws.
Firearms owners declaring compliance or intention to comply with the new laws, which has always been high, has increased. The percentage of firearms owners who would be very likely to hand in an illegal firearm if they had one has increased from 71 to 79% while among the small number of people who still own an illegal firearm, 84% say they are likely to hand their firearm in.
The removal of dangerous firearms from our communities and the establishment of uniform registration and licensing together with the introduction of comprehensive conditions for firearms ownership marks a significant turning point in our nation's approach to firearms.
*At close of business on Monday 25 August 1997, 506,399 firearms had been handed in and $259.8 million had been paid in compensation to gun owners.
**Except in South Australia where the buyback ended on February 28.
Media contacts: Nicholas Harford (06)277 7300
Website www.gun.law.gov.au
Home > Research archive > 1997 > Thanks to participants in firearms buyback