Federal government claims some states standing in the way of ‘getting those guns off our streets’

PM’s deadline to establish the biggest gun buyback in 30 years passes with half of the nation’s governments refusing to join Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast The federal government has accused state and territory leaders who refuse to sign up to its proposed national gun buyback scheme of “standing in the way” of efforts to get dangerous weapons off Australian streets. Anthony Albanese’s end of March deadline to establish the biggest gun buyback in 30 years has now passed, with half of the nation’s governments refusing to join. There is no timeline for the buyback, announced in the weeks after the Bondi terror attack, and it remains unclear how costs will be split. “It’s for states and territories to justify to Australians if they intend to stand in the way of getting those guns off our streets,” a federal government spokesperson said on Tuesday. “All governments should be working to help to keep Australians safe. National cabinet agreed to strengthen gun laws across the nation. The reforms would be the largest since Port Arthur in 1996. “Gun laws are only as strong as the weakes