The Prime Minister’s gun buyback will cost the Australian public at least $15 billion, half of it via the states, at a time when Australians are struggling with a cost-of-living crisis.
And the buyback “will do nothing to prevent the administration failures that led to the terrorist attack at Bondi Beach,” according to a statement by the Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia (SIFA).
SIFA estimated the costs, including the prices of surrendered firearms, accessories, ammunition and parts as well as compensation to business and to people who may lose their jobs.
It says the $15 billion is conservative, and the costs could amount to $20 billion.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has not pledged an amount for the buyback scheme, which is yet to go before parliament.
John Howard increased the Medicare levy from 1.5% of income to 1.7% to raise almost $488 million to find his 1996 gun buyback, which cost $367 million; the leftover money — about 25% of what the public paid — went into consolidated revenue, giving the government a profit.
In total, 650,000 firearms were collected.
SIFA expects almost three times as many firearms will be surrendered this time, at a much higher dollar value per item due to inflation over 30 years since Howard’s buyback.
The average impact on individual Australian taxpayers is likely to be upwards of four figures each.
“SIFA does not believe that Australians will provide widespread support for a new tax during a time of struggle,” the organisation said in its statement.
“SIFA believes this is a shameless attempt to divert national attention from the underlying issue of antisemitism and the increased risk of terrorism in the nation.”
Many people believe the buyback money would be much better elsewhere.
“ASIO’s budget is about $1.1 billion dollars,” Shooters Union president Graham Park said. “You could double it, but instead the Prime Minister wants to use that money to buy guns from people who don’t commit crimes. You could build five, six regional hospitals with that money and actually save lives.”
Mr Albanese said, “This national buyback scheme will help get guns off our streets, and help keep all Australians safe.”
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