Black market trade fears over weapons licence backlog

Queensland firearms dealers fear ongoing waitlist blowouts for weapons licences could increase black market trade, as the relationship the industry had with the state government was described as at breaking point.

A blowout in Queensland gun licensing process times could lead to an explosion in a black market trade of weapons, experts have warned, with licensed dealers threatening to walk away from the industry.

Wait times within the Queensland Police Service’s Weapons Licensing division have hit 35 weeks – or more than eight months – for licence applications and 46 days for permits to acquire.

Queensland Firearms Dealers Association president Jade Cleaver said licensed firearm owners were “losing faith” in the process, and he feared the relationship the industry had with the state government was at breaking point.

Dealers said the current situation could lead to an over-demand and under-supply of firearms through legal means, leaving Queensland “vulnerable” to a growth in black-market weapons.

“Queensland firearms dealers are the front line of the firearms registration process and public safety issues will arise as more dealers consider closing their doors in coming months because of the lack of turnover due to permit to acquire delays,” Mr Cleaver said.

Robbie Katter MP. Picture: Shae Beplate

Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter said “the most dangerous guns in this state are the ones police don’t know about, so instead of risking an explosion in the illegal firearms trade, the minister (Mark Ryan) and Weapon’s Licensing should be rushing to work with industry”.

“The situation is also causing a stockpile of guns in single locations which, again, is a public safety risk,” he said.

“They (firearm retailers) have no cash flow and cannot make ends meet – they’re trying to assist the government in controlling and monitoring the trade of firearms across the state, which of course is vital, and for their trouble they’re being run into the ground.”

Mr Cleaver said the outstanding amount owed to his own store from customers waiting for permits was up to millions of dollars.

“We’re not asking for assistance, we just want things to go back to normal with workable processing times of seven days or less,” he said.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the police are currently overhauling processes to ensure the approvals process is “thorough, efficient and importantly, that it promotes community safety”.

“This includes more resourcing and a restructure to form the newly commissioned Weapons Licensing Group (WLG).

“Last month, a workforce boost consisting of an additional 50 personnel was extended for an extra 12 months to assist in backlogs and reduce application processing times.”