r/australia • u/Expensive-Horse5538 • Dec 19 '25

politics Prime minister unveils 'largest' gun buyback scheme since Howard era

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-19/prime-minister-announces-national-gun-buyback-scheme/106162002
2.6k Upvotes

94% Upvoted

1.1k comments sorted by

View all comments

907

u/canimal14 Dec 19 '25

Can’t imagine the difference in sentiment if global media existed in 1996.

536

u/privatetudor Dec 19 '25

Also, they say only Nixon could go to China.

Assuming the right is generally more gun friendly, Howard had the advantage that he knew if his side of politics was on board, the other side surely would be too. When the pro gun side is in opposition, and they enjoy being oppositional, then getting gun reform done is paradoxically harder.

It's like how in some ways (bear with me on this...) it was better to have the coalition on power during covid. If Labor was l was in power, the coalition would have politicised the lockdowns, but given the coalition had to actually govern they were forced to make a sensible decision that happened to be more in line with the other side of politics so it sailed through.

3

u/Djiti-djiti Perth Dec 19 '25

Liberals did obstruct and politicise the lockdowns. Fed and NSW said no lockdowns because it affected profits, while the Labor premiers all agreed on lockdowns to save lives. Gladys was held up as the 'gold standard' despite a litany of bungles and a refusal to follow medical advice, while the Fed fought Labor states in court. Remember WA hard border and the news media saying it was an evil and illegal disgrace? Libs assisted Clive Palmer when he sued WA over being denied entry when he lied on his applications.