The Northern Territory government has rejected the Commonwealth’s proposed national gun buyback scheme, saying the territory should not have to partly fund the initiative. 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the national buyback in December following the Bondi terror attack, saying the Commonwealth would split the cost of the buyback with the states and territories on a 50:50 basis.

The planned scheme, which will require legislation to be passed to provide funding, would include the buyback of surplus, newly banned and illegal guns.

But on Monday, NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said her government would not support the buyback if the territory had to partly pay for it.

“If the federal government wants to put a national buyback scheme in place, they should fund it, I will not have everyday Territorians foot that bill,” she said.Woman in pink blazer sits in chair inside parliament

Lia Finocchiaro says the federal government should pay for the national buyback scheme in its entirety. (ABC News: Pete Garnish)

Mr Albanese has also proposed that the states and territories be responsible for the collection, processing and payment to individuals for surrendered guns. 

He said that approach was consistent with the gun buyback established by former prime minister John Howard following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

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On Monday, Mr Albanese recalled parliament early to debate the national buyback scheme.

It came after Tasmania Police Minister Felix Ellis pushed back against the buyback over its costs, and suggested other states had similar concerns during a national meeting of attorneys-general and police ministers last week.

Speaking to Radio National, Mr Ellis noted the NT had been “quite strong” in its opposition to other gun law changes proposed by the federal government, including limiting the number of firearms a single person can own and further restricting the types of weapons that are legal.

Both of those policies have already been adopted by NSW.

A man with dark facial hair, a navy suit and yellow tie stands over microphones with soft green rainforest in the background.

Felix Ellis says Tasmania is also opposed to the federal government’s proposed national gun buyback scheme. (ABC News: Morgan Timms)

Ms Finocchiaro said there could not be a “one-size-fits-all-approach” to reform.

“I make no apology for putting the best interests of Territorians first,” she said.

“We have been explicitly clear following National Cabinet … that we will work with the federal government to fast-track the national firearms register and allow additional use of criminal intelligence to reject or remove firearms licenses or firearms from people or households that are a threat to safety.”

A woman in a white shirt and checked blazer

Marie-Clare Boothby says the NT government believes in focusing on criminal intelligence when it comes to gun control policy. (ABC News: Tristan Hooft)

NT Attorney-General Marie-Clare Boothby said the NT supported targeted, criminal intelligence-led measures “that strengthen public safety without undermining lawful firearm ownership”.

“The most important work is improving how criminal intelligence is used to inform firearms licensing decisions,” she said.

Two rows of guns lined up in a storage room.

In late 2025, NT police seized more than 240 firearms from a property in Kakadu National Park. (Supplied: Northern Territory Police Force)

“These are genuine, relevant reforms that help identify risk early and prevent firearms from falling into the wrong hands.

“We are not afraid to remove firearms or cancel licenses, and not just for individuals but entire households.”

In late 2025, the NT government loosened territory firearm laws, removing the mandatory 28-day waiting period for Category A and B licence holders purchasing another gun of the same category.Â