Australia Backs Gun Buyback After Deadly Bondi Attack. Australia's lower house of parliament has approved a nationwide gun buyback scheme and tougher checks on firearm licence applications, following last month's deadly shooting at Bondi Beach. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the new laws could have prevented the attack on a Jewish festival that left 15 people dead. He told parliament the attackers were driven by hate and were able to access guns legally under existing rules. Under the plan, surplus and newly restricted firearms will be bought back, reducing Australia's roughly four million registered guns. Lawmakers also backed stricter import controls and better intelligence sharing to flag high-risk licence applicants. The bill passed the House by a clear margin and now heads to the Senate, where it is expected to pass with Green support. The vote comes as parliament also debates hate speech reforms aimed at tackling antisemitism.