Victoria Police fury at National Shooting Council post about guns officer

Victoria Police has hit out at the National Shooting Council for an online attack on an officer in charge of gun licensing.

The gun lobby used the officer’s photograph and named him in relation to the disputed claims about gun law enforcement.

Furious police have hit out at the National Shooting Council for an online “harassment” attack on an officer in charge of gun licensing.

The gun lobby group, whose sponsors include the “Bushranger Brotherhood of Australia”, used the officer’s photograph and named him in relation to disputed claims about gun law enforcement.

The post by the national shooting council followed gun-loving accountant turned state politician Tim Quilty using parliamentary privilege to attack the officer.

Rival gun clubs were worried about the NSC putting more heat on responsible gun owners, saying some of their claims were “not factual”.

Victoria Police has denied claims against the officer, saying the National Shooting Council had crossed the line.

“Victoria Police condemns public and online harassment of its employees, especially in circumstances where allegations are untested,” a statement said.

The National Shooting Council said there was “no intimidation of anyone” claiming it was only reporting on matters raised in parliament.

Groups who support the National Shooting Council include the Bushranger Brotherhood of Australia.

Mr Quilty was unrepentant when asked about the criticism from Victoria Police, saying he would welcome donations from the NSC.

“If the police ministers would actually answer my questions in parliament, instead of ducking for cover and running interference for VicPol, we might be getting closer to the bottom of what has been going on,” he said.

“The fact that VicPol are now trying to attack the messenger rather than answer questions suggests they are desperately trying to keep something covered up.”

Tensions peaked when the NSC published the photograph of the officer in August.

Victoria Police has denied claims from the NSC that the officer had acted improperly.

The post from the NSC, which was still up this week, also linked to a video of Mr Quilty making claims against the officer in the Victorian state parliament.

Anything said in parliament is privileged, which means no-one can sue for defamation.

However, that privilege can be revoked if a politician is deemed in contempt of parliament by knowingly making false statements.

Gun-loving accountant turned state politician Tim Quilty.

The NSC and Mr Quilty have aired claims that Victoria Police did not return 60,000 rounds of ammunition seized from a man at Leigh Creek, near Ballarat, in October 2021.

They also claimed five firearms were inappropriately destroyed at the police ballistics unit in Macleod, in Melbourne’s north eastern suburbs.

Those guns had been seized from a Geelong gun-dealer by armed crime squad detectives in 2016 investigating the trafficking of weapons from the United States.

Victoria Police denied any wrongdoing in both matters.

The National Shooting Council’s links with the Bushranger Brotherhood of Australia has raised concerns among rival gun clubs.

“We’ll have disagreements with police but responsible shooters want to be well-regulated,” an official of a rival club, who asked to remain anonymous, said.

“Some of their (the NSC’s) stuff just isn’t factual.”

The Bushrangers claim to be a “militant androcentric fraternity, dedicated to improving the lives of its members and striving to bring about a sovereign territory for straight, Anglo-Celtic men who share the same values, within Australia.”

UAP Senator Ralph Babet with Tim Quilty and David Limbrick.

The Bushranger website also states its values included “strength, discipline and preparedness.”

“A warrior’s ethos is expected of all members, affiliates and supporters of this fraternity,” the website states.

An NSC spokesman said the organisation was comfortable with the sponsorship from the Bushranger Brotherhood of Australia.

“We are not aware of any improper or illegal conduct by them or any of our other sponsors,” he said.

“If we were, we would take action on it but no-one, not even your source, has come to us with any concerns. If they do have information, we should have then we would welcome it.”

The Bushranger Brotherhood of Australia did not respond to questions.