Tighter limits, restrictions: what you need to know about the new gun laws

Mr Butler is the regional MP for Barwon. He has been around firearms since he was three years old and started shooting at 10.

He said the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025, which passed NSW Parliament at 3am on Christmas Eve, would do nothing to stop terrorism.

Under the new reforms, an individual can only own four firearms for recreational or personal use. Farmers and professional shooters will be limited to 10 firearms.

Tighter restrictions have also been placed on straight-pull, pump-action and button/lever-release rifles. They will be banned for most people, with the exception of primary producers and those using them for an official purpose.

Standard firearm licences will now need to be renewed every two years.

Those who do not have Australian citizenship will not be able to get a gun licence. However, there's an exemption for New Zealand residents in security roles or farming.

Police also have greater powers to refuse or revoke licences based on criminal intelligence. The decision will no longer be subject to a review by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

Restrictions on protests have also been increased.

The Police Commissioner can issue a Public Assembly Restriction Declaration to ban street protests for up to three months in designated areas following a terrorist incident.

Police also have extended powers to demand the removal of face coverings during protests.

As part of the reforms, the NSW and federal governments are establishing a firearm buyback scheme.

Any firearms that were made illegal or restricted by the new legislation can be surrendered and the owners will be compensated.

Bathurst currently has 17,026 registered firearms, Dubbo 15,591, Orange 13,224 and Mudgee 12,895.

Premier Chris Minns said the laws got the balance right between providing police with the tools they need to calm a combustible situation, while also restricting access to dangerous weapons.

"None of these measures alone will end antisemitism and violence but together these reforms are the single best thing we can do to keep the people of New South Wales safe and prevent further harm," Mr Minns said.

"I acknowledge that these are very significant changes that not everyone will agree with, but our state has changed following the horrific antisemitic attack on Bondi Beach and our laws must change too.

Attorney-General Michael Daley said the NSW government would take "whatever measures needed" to keep the community safe.

But Mr Butler does not believe the new laws will have their intended outcome.

"Now, don't get me wrong - we all want to keep people safe - but these laws? They're rushed, they don't fix the real problems behind that attack, and they hit regional people the hardest," Mr Butler said.

"Here's the kicker - these firearm licensing changes are complicated and won't even start for months. Passing it now or next year makes no difference. So why the rush?

"The firearms industry hasn't been consulted, regional voices are ignored, and now we've got laws that could backfire - exposing criminal intel, weakening control of hearings, and piling more work on already stretched police."

He said worst of all was that they didn't tackle the "rising antisemitism, operational failures in the current licensing system, and poor intel sharing" that caused the Bondi attack.

"Instead, they're demonising law-abiding gun owners. That's not on," he said.

Orange MP Phil Donato has also slammed the "hastily assembled" bill.

"History shows that legislation which is rushed through parliament rarely delivers good outcomes," he said.

"This process has been deeply undemocratic - it smacks of socialist ideology, and ignorance of Aussie tradition and culture - especially for people of Regional NSW.

"In fact, this week's decision is by far and away the poorest governance I've seen in my 9 years of representing the Orange electorate as the State MP."

The new gun laws are likely to come into effect in the new year. They will start when the gun buyback scheme begins.