‘Critical gaps and unsound decisions’: audit blasts Firearms Registry in wake of double murder

An Auditor-General’s report has blasted the Firearms Registry, saying “critical gaps” in information and “unsound” decisions by junior clerks are putting police and the community in danger.

• Siblings lived in fear of their father
• Father’s murder of his children was premeditated: police

A damning report into the state’s flawed firearm registry citing “gaps” and “unsound decisions” will be sent to the coroner investigating the horrific murder of two children last year.

The audit into the registry — which issued a Commissioner’s Permit to killer dad John Edwards, allowing him to get guns before shooting his children last year — reveals many problems with the process.

NSW Auditor-General Margaret Crawford found junior clerks were making “unsound” decisions and were not subject to adequate oversight, creating an “additional and greater risk to public and police safety”.

Jack Edwards, 15, and Jennifer Edwards, 13, were shot dead by their father John Edwards, who was able to bypass regulations which should have prevented him getting a firearm. Picture: AAP

Some addresses listed by the agency were five years out of date, and there were “critical gaps” in information about the locations of guns and owners, which “reduce the registry’s ability to take an effective risk-based approach to regulating firearm ownership,” she reported.

Domestic violence offender Edwards used two handguns to kill his son Jack, 15, and daughter Jennifer, 13, in West Pennant Hills in July last year before then shooting himself.

After the tragedy it was revealed Edwards managed to bypass strict rules stopping certain individuals from accessing guns by applying for the special permit.

Once the Commissioner’s Permit was issued it allowed him to get hold of weapons and train at a gun club.

It happened despite the registry, which falls under NSW Police, telling the Ku-ring-gai Pistol Club earlier last year that Edwards should not be given access to a firearm.

“I will be writing to make these matters known to the NSW Coroner’s office,” Shooters, Fishers and Farmers MP Robert Borsak said.

He said the report vindicated concerns long held by his party that Police Minister Troy Grant had not given adequate resources and staff ­support to the “outdated, cumbersome and bureaucratic” registry.

In a letter of response on February 21, Police Commissioner Mick Fuller said “shortcomings” identified were actually the responsibility of third parties.

A police spokesman said yesterday a new registry commander would bring in a raft of “wide-ranging improvements”.