A federal deadline for states and territories to commit to a proposed national gun buyback scheme has expired, exposing deep divisions between jurisdictions and casting doubt over the rollout of the reforms.The 1 July deadline marked the second time the federal government had set a target for agreement, after an earlier April deadline also lapsed.

The proposed scheme, prompted by the Bondi massacre, aimed to establish a nationwide approach to purchasing surplus and illegal firearms, with governments sharing the cost of compensation.However, several jurisdictions have opted out.Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the Northern Territory have signalled they will not support the national framework.Western Australia has pursued its own state-based scheme, while Tasmania has also moved independently.This leaves New South Wales and the ACT as the only jurisdictions still aligned with the federal proposal.

Despite the missed deadline, a federal government spokesperson indicated the scheme would still proceed, pointing to agreements reached through National Cabinet.No extension to the legislative deadline has been confirmed, creating uncertainty around implementation.The collapse in unified support has drawn political criticism.

Nationals MPs argued that the lack of state participation undermines the viability of a national approach, while Senator Matt Canavan described the policy as a reactive response rather than a solution addressing underlying causes.

The proposed reforms were previously supported by a royal commission and backed by intelligence assessments suggesting tighter controls could reduce extremist access to firearms.The issue has also reignited debate over Australia’s existing patchwork of firearms laws and the feasibility of coordinated national reforms.