Key facts
- An 11-year-old boy was shot in the face and neck in a Sydney apartment.
- The boy was in critical condition at Westmead Children's hospital.
- Police are investigating the unregistered firearm's presence in the home.
- NSW Premier Chris Minns called the incident a "tragic reminder" of gun dangers.
- The state's largest gun buyback program is set to begin November 2.
- The Liberal opposition has proposed scrapping firearm ownership caps for primary producers and freezing the buyback.
An 11-year-old boy was shot in the face and neck in a Sydney apartment on Monday evening, prompting New South Wales Premier Chris Minns to label the incident a "tragic reminder" of the dangers posed by firearms. The child was transported to Westmead Children's hospital in a critical condition.
Police are investigating how the unregistered firearm came to be in the Norwest unit, where four 18-year-old men and a 44-year-old woman were also present. None of the other individuals were injured. One of the men was charged with concealing a serious indictable offence, while two others were arrested and released pending further inquiries. Superintendent Naomi Moore stated that police have no information to suggest the shooting is linked to organised crime, describing it as one of the worst situations she has encountered.
The shooting has intensified the political debate surrounding the state's upcoming gun buyback program, set to commence on November 2. The Liberal opposition, which had previously supported a buyback, has now pledged to scrap Labor's firearm ownership caps for primary producers and called for a commission of inquiry into gun laws instead. Police Minister Yasmin Catley criticized this shift as a "stunning backflip" that would result in more guns remaining in circulation, emphasizing the government's stance that fewer dangerous guns lead to a safer New South Wales. Opposition leader Kellie Sloane defended the party's position, arguing that resources should be focused on "red-flagging terrorists" and increasing policing, rather than what she described as a "blunt instrument" targeting the wrong people.