Queensland police minister admits to using gun to shoot rats

THE Queensland police minister’s novel way of dealing with rat infestation at his home could land him in trouble.

Bill Byrne NYE

THE Queensland opposition has the police minister in its sights after he admitted using a rifle to shoot rats at his suburban home.

The opposition will write to the police commissioner, asking him to consider if Bill Byrne broke the law by firing his .22 calibre rifle at rats in the roof cavity of his house, the Courier Mail reports.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is standing by her minister, saying firing a weapon at home is legal.

Mr Byrne told the paper that on a number of occasions he had used rat-shot bullets to “remove rats and the like” from his home in suburban Rockhampton.

The Weapons Act restricts recreational licence holders to shooting on rural land with the owner’s approval, while those with a club licence can only fire a weapon at a shooting range.

The opposition says the premier must stand the minister aside while police investigate what gun licence Mr Byrne held at the time.

Queensland Shooters Union president Graham Park said the minister might have committed an offence under the Weapons Act.

“This is why we are always trying to work with the government, so we can streamline legislation so police resources aren’t used on things like mouse shootings,” he told the Courier Mail.

He suggested Queenslanders with rat problems use baits, not bullets.