Joe Rogan renews criticism of Australia’s gun buyback and government
Joe Rogan criticised Australia’s 1996 gun buyback scheme, saying the country had made a mistake by surrendering firearms and describing its government as oppressive. The comments, made on a podcast with comedian Kurt Metzger, renew Rogan’s longstanding criticism of Australian policies on guns and COVID-19 restrictions.
The reforms followed the Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed, and led to more than 650,000 firearms being handed in. A new buyback was announced after the 2025 Bondi massacre, which killed 15 people; from 2 November, owners of newly banned firearms are due to be paid to surrender them. Rogan has also said he would not move to Australia, while actor Russell Crowe defended Prime Minister Anthony Albanese when discussing the country’s politics on Rogan’s podcast.
- Rogan again criticised Australia’s gun laws and government.
- The 1996 buyback collected more than 650,000 firearms.
- A new scheme follows the 2025 Bondi massacre.
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Australia introduced major gun restrictions after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, in which 35 people were killed. The changes included a national buyback that removed more than 650,000 firearms from circulation, alongside tighter rules on gun ownership.
Gun policy is set by Australia’s federal and state governments, and debate continues over how restrictions affect public safety and individual rights. After the 2025 Bondi massacre, which killed 15 people, the government announced another buyback for newly banned firearms. Joe Rogan is a US podcaster whose criticism of Australian policies has also included the country’s COVID-19 restrictions.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Supporters of the buyback argue that restricting access to firearms after mass shootings is a reasonable way to reduce the risk of future killings. They may see the 1996 reforms and the newly announced scheme as proportionate public-safety measures, with compensation recognising owners’ interests while prioritising protection from gun violence.
The case against
Critics argue that broad buybacks burden lawful owners and restrict personal freedom without necessarily preventing determined attackers from obtaining weapons. They may regard Rogan’s concern about government overreach as especially relevant when restrictions expand, and argue that policy should be judged by evidence of its effectiveness as well as its intentions.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Joe Rogan takes another swipe at Australia after declaring he would never move here: ‘What a cage Australia is’”.