Fears for post-Wieambilla gun reform amid $150k donations

The diaries of the Premier and Police Minister have revealed the LNP’s links to pro-gun groups as advocates slam a worrying lack of action.

Senior Queensland politicians have held meetings with the pro-gun lobby, sparking fears gun reforms in Queensland may be further delayed.

• Minister dodges key question

Some of the state’s most senior ministers have had regular meetings with pro-gun lobbyists as the Crisafulli government refuses to commit to mandatory mental health checks for gun owners in wake of Queensland’s deadliest police shooting.

More than $150,000 has been donated by gun suppliers and pro-weapon groups to the LNP in the last eight years, including from one of the country’s biggest dealers, NIOA.

Gun safety advocates, police and victims fear the dealings could scuttle reforms to the gun legislation recommended in the findings of the Wieambilla massacre inquest, which are already in place in Western Australia.

State Coroner Terry Ryan handed down the landmark findings more than two weeks ago, yet the government is yet to agree to accept any recommendations.

Queensland Police Union acting president Andy Williams slammed the delays. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen / Courier Mail

Walter Mikac – who lost his family in the Port Arthur massacre – helped push for changes in Western Australia and says Queensland needs to follow suit.

Queensland Police Union Acting President Andy Williams labelled the inaction “disappointing and distasteful”.

“It’s been three years since police were ambushed and murdered by deranged individuals at Wieambilla and such a basic amendment to firearms ownership has not been implemented yet is frustrating and distasteful,” Mr Williams said.

“Police coming face-to-face with armed offenders suffering a mental health episode is confronting and often ends with tragic results – responsible firearm owners would never want to see this occur.”

A deep-dive into ministers’ diaries shows five MPs met with gun suppliers and pro-gun groups this year, including Premier David Crisafulli.

Mr Crisafulli met with Queensland-based weapons supplier NIOA on August 21, along with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Police Minister Dan Purdie.

According to diaries, Mr Purdie has had four meetings with gun groups since being elected, including The Shooters Union, Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) and NIOA.

Premier David Crisafulli and Police Minister Dan Purdie met with weapons supplier NIOA on August 21. Picture: Supplied

He met with one gun safety group – Gun Control Australia – in July.

An analysis of LNP donations shows NIOA and Cleaver Holdings – two of the country’s biggest gun suppliers – pumped more than $150,000 into the party since 2017.

Primary Industries Minister Tony Perrett also had multiple meetings with the same groups and Resources Minister Dale Last met with the Shooters Union on August 28.

Australian Gun Safety Alliance convener Stephen Bendle expressed concerns about shooting groups having links to LNP MPs, saying it could influence the decision-making while the government considers the recommendation.

“There’s a responsibility by the government to ensure that people are fit and proper and they’re healthy and they’re able to pose no risk to the community, and if people meet their criteria – farmers, hunters, target shooters, sport shooters – they’re all entitled to use firearm, we have no problem with that,” he said.

As of October 2024, there are currently more guns in Australia than there were before the 1996 Port Arthur Massacre, and Queensland has the second highest number of guns and licenses in the country.

According to The Australia Institute, Queensland gun numbers were also increasing to more than one million guns and nearly 225,000 license holders last year – equating to about one firearm for every six people.

An inquest into the deaths of Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and Alan Dare, recommended possible mandatory mental health assessments for weapons licence holders.

The gun control recommendation was made after a lengthy inquest into the deaths of Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, as well as civilian Alan Dare, who were murdered by Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train in 2022.

Findings revealed Nathaniel was a registered gun owner, but had severe mental health problems.

Mr Ryan made a recommendation that the state government investigate the feasibility of mandatory mental health assessments for weapons licence holders, which would follow in the footsteps of legislation in Western Australia.

President of Gun Control Australia Tim Quinn said Queensland is among the weakest states and territories in terms of gun laws and pro-gun lobbyists see that as an “easy target”.

“There’s significant amount of money in the in the gun lobby going towards people who are dedicated to going and meeting with politicians, and I think they’ve got a much bigger voice than what we do, and I think that they’re using delay tactics for things, and they’re using their ability to just be there all the time to make things happen for themselves,” Mr Quinn said

Members of the LNP have previously been vocal about their opposition to stricter regulation.

Mr Perrett has been linked to pro-gun groups, including Shooters Union Australia and the SSAA Queensland, and at one point voted against his own party to oppose stricter gun amendments.

In 2017, the Labor government introduced strengthened regulations that would limit access to high-capacity firearms and despite support from the LNP, Mr Perrett broke ranks to vote against the reforms.

Meanwhile, Tim Mander in 2018 came under fire for saying he was “open” to weaker gun laws.

Shooters Union Australia president Graham Park. Picture: Supplied.

Many of the pro-gun groups fall under and donate to Australia’s peak gun lobby – Shooting Industry Foundation of Australia – who are backed by five of the largest Australian firearms wholesalers, including NIOA.

It is understood the lobby uses their money to fund meetings with politicians across the country, as well as election campaigns and at times political donations.

Mr Bendle said the government needed to engage with all stakeholders when it comes to future gun reforms.

“They need to talk to more people than just those who own firearms,” he said.

Shooters Union Australia president Graham Park said they did not support the recommendation and they would be providing input to Mr Purdie during the next one of their “regular meetings” with him.

The Courier-Mail asked Mr Purdie whether the LNP’s pro-gun ties would influence the decision, but he did not answer the question.

A spokeswoman for Mr Purdie said the government were closely considering all recommendations handed down by Mr Ryan.

Mr Perrett and Mr Mander did not wish to comment about their position on mental health checks for gun owners.

Originally published as Fears for post-Wieambilla gun reform amid $150k donations