<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The federal government's ambitious plan for </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/gun-control" rel="" target="_blank" title="universal gun reform"><span>universal gun reform</span></a><span> has hit a major snag.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>After announcing Australia's </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bondi-beach-shooting-gun-buyback-announced-anthony-albanese/5a5e4731-8785-4a9d-9f40-af0ce87a9625" rel="" target="_blank" title="biggest gun buyback scheme in 30 years"><span>biggest gun buyback scheme in 30 years</span></a><span> in the aftermath of the </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/bondi-shooting" rel="" target="_blank" title="Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14,"><span>Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14,</span></a><span> the government has failed to unite all Australian states and territories before the March deadline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The scheme was expected to lead to the seizure and destruction of hundreds of thousands of "surplus, newly banned and illegal" firearms.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>NATIONAL:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/dezi-freeman-update-police-tracked-car-to-hideout-on-rural-property-before-the-manhunt-ended-in-hail-of-bullets/ceab03c4-6d99-4417-9e9f-ee674d52548c" target="_blank"><strong><span>Fugitive Dezi Freeman 'shot up to 20 times' during stand-off</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>But four months on, and despite funding legislation passing the Senate, only New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have signed up.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It presents a key barrier for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's sweeping legislation after he admitted the country's gun laws are "only as strong as the weakest state".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland and the Northern Territory opposed the buyback scheme after the government suggested a split payment model.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australian-gun-buyback-scheme-is-it-going-ahead-which-states-have-agreed-everything-to-know-explained/f4a3731a-4f45-46db-8f8f-c34c7b920893" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Both states are against limiting the number of guns a person can own.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/videos/national/queensland-premier-holds-firm-on-rejecting-gun-buyback-scheme/cmknrfuxw002d0hotdyxff1m8" rel="" target="_blank" title="Queensland's Premier David Crisafulli"><span>Queensland's Premier David Crisafulli</span></a><span> had been a vocal opponent of the scheme, claiming in January that it won't focus on antisemitism and getting guns out of the hands of terrorists.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Albanese hit back and said Crisafulli's rejection of the scheme was not "in the interests of Queenslanders or the nation".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Queensland has the second-highest rate of gun ownership in Australia, while the biggest concentration of firearms is in NSW.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>FUEL CRISIS:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/petrol-prices-australia-three-month-fuel-excise-cost-passes-senate-in-bid-to-fight-high-prices/e8e6621c-5e61-44f2-ad60-e89df51c88a9" target="_blank"><strong><span>Servos cut prices as fuel excise reduction passes Parliament</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro said she would not support the buyback scheme if the territory was forced to fund it.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"I make no apology for putting the best interests of Territorians first," Finocchiaro said in January.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In Victoria, Premier Jacinta Allan has remained non-commital as she awaits a review into the state's current gun laws.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>And South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas is also yet to commit to a buyback.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Malinauskas reportedly assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to tighten the state's gun control ahead of the March state election, </span><em><span>The Guardian</span></em><span> reports.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Western Australia kicked off its own voluntary firearm buyback scheme, which saw over 83,000 guns surrendered by January 20.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Tasmanian government is also implementing its own voluntary buyback scheme.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Obstinance from the four states who have either opposed or avoided committing to the federal government's scheme will block a key part of Labor's sweeping gun reforms introduced after 15 innocent people were killed on December 15.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The PM had asked states and territories to commit to the new gun law reforms no later than March.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He committed to legislation by July and proposed that all states and territories be responsible for the collection, processing and payment of surrendered firearms, with the government funding costs on a 50:50 basis.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Federal Police will be responsible for the destruction of the guns.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>