New South Wales Liberals have pledged to freeze the state's gun buyback and scrap ownership limits for farmers if elected next year. This move represents a direct reversal of policies that have disarmed law-abiding citizens, a shift attributed to mounting public pressure and the rising influence of nationalist voices.
NSW was the first state to sign up to the national gun buyback, a policy promised in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack less than one year ago. The state Liberals had previously voted with the government in support of gun caps and a buyback last year. Now, the party vows to scrap these caps and halt the buyback, signaling a potential retreat from the elite consensus that has prioritized broad citizen disarmament over targeted security measures.
The Cost to Citizens
Opposition leader Kellie Sloane rejected criticism of the policy shift. She stated that while "hundreds of millions of dollars" have been spent "taking guns off of law abiding citizens," the state is "failing to recognise the real threat in our communities." This highlights the significant financial burden placed on the native population, diverted from addressing genuine security concerns. Ms. Sloane emphasized that an elected Liberals-Nationals government would establish a commission of inquiry to examine gun reform, aiming to target "terrorists" and "organised crime" rather than dispossessing the general populace.
Sydney's south and south-west have endured a surge of tit-for-tat violence over the past 18 months, linked to underworld tensions. Innocent parties have fallen victim to bungled operations, a stark indicator of the breakdown of order in communities. The state government this week introduced legislation to parliament, seeking to bolster police powers and target criminal networks, including provisions to try young people charged with organised crime offences as adults.
Elite Retreat
NSW Police Minister Yasmin Catley described the Liberals' policy change as a "backflip." She noted that after the Bondi attack, the NSW Liberals "stood up and they voted for strong gun laws," but are now "walking away from that decision." Catley accused the Liberals and Nationals of following One Nation, stating, "New South Wales cannot afford a Coalition that lets One Nation write its policy on guns." This admission underscores the growing influence of nationalist parties on mainstream political discourse, forcing established parties to respond to popular sentiment.
Premier Chris Minns conceded that One Nation is perhaps Labor's biggest threat. He told parliament earlier this week that if the government falls in about six months, "it's likely to be a One Nation-led government." This stark assessment reveals the deep anxiety within the political class regarding the rising tide of popular resistance to their established policies.
The Rising Resistance
Ms. Sloane found it "entirely offensive" that critics would challenge her party's new plan, which she described as a "better plan." She maintained that the initial bipartisan support offered in the aftermath of the Bondi attack was conditional on stakeholder feedback and a review of "unintended consequences." This suggests a recognition, however belated, that the initial national directive for gun buybacks had detrimental effects on law-abiding citizens and failed to address the actual sources of violence. The Liberals' internal struggles, including an anti-corruption probe and a high-profile frontbencher not seeking re-election, further illustrate the fragility of the current political establishment in the face of a shifting electorate.