Gun reform promised in face of growing right-wing extremism

Reforms to Australia’s firearm laws will come into force this year following the fatal shooting of two police officers, the PM promises.

National cabinet took the “first steps” towards a national firearms register on Friday. Picture: NSW Police

Reforms to Australia’s firearm laws will come into force this year following the fatal shooting of two police officers that Anthony Albanese says demonstrates the “consequences” of the growing far-right extremist movement.

While state and territory police ministers will not meet for another six months to discuss options for a national firearms register, advocates welcomed the “first steps” taken by national cabinet, which on Friday met for the first time this year.

The Prime Minister said it was “quite clear we need to do better in co-operation between jurisdictions when it comes to firearms”, and confirmed he had tasked ­Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus with convening state and territory ministers to discuss options for ­reform.

“We agreed we’d report back by the middle of the year … on the ­options to implement a National Firearms Register, and it’s agreed that that would be a necessary measure,” he said.

When asked about the six-month time frame, a spokesman for Mr Dreyfus said discussions over the register were “a priority”.

“As requested by national cabinet, this group … will deliver ­options for national cabinet consideration in mid-2023,” he said. “This work will get under way as a priority.”

Australian Gun Safety Alliance convener Stephen Bendle said this week the community and police expected a national register of ­firearms.

“We hope that all premiers and chief ministers understand the need for a single source of information on firearms that all law ­enforcement can access when they need to,” he said.

“We are pleased that all jurisdictions, including the commonwealth, have agreed to the importance of a national firearm register. We understand the ­challenges associated with bringing together eight firearm management systems. AGSA will continue to work with all jurisdictions to ensure we can deliver this as soon as possible.”

Australian Gun Safety Alliance convener Stephen Bendle. Picture: Supplied

Australian Federal Police ­Association president Alex Caruana. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Australian Federal Police ­Association president Alex Caruana said: “If the national database comes to fruition, every police officer will have accurate firearms information in real time – making their job immeasurably safer.”

A spokesman for Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, a vocal advocate for gun reform since the fatal shooting of two police officers in the state in December, said she was satisfied with the decision from national cabinet and the time frame at which ­reform was being progressed.

Mr Albanese confirmed ­ national cabinet had been briefed by ASIO director-general Mike Burgess in relation to right-wing extremism, which was at play in the Queensland shooting.

“(This was) catastrophic premeditated, calculated murder that occurred there on the basis of a warped ideology,” he said. “It ­requires us to do what we can to keep the citizens we all represent safe. Hence the report … from Mr Burgess. We know that the threat is real and, tragically, we have seen the consequences of it.”

ASIO warned last year that Covid had accelerated the growth of fringe conspiracy groups, with right-wing extremists now taking up about half of its workload.

Along with moving on a ­national gun registry, Mr Albanese confirmed a review into terrorism laws, flagged last year by Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, was under way.

Ms O’Neil in December raised concern with current counter-terrorism laws failing to capture the “new forms of terrorism”, which represented a significant departure from religious fundamentalism that historically accounted for most of ASIO’s caseload. Mr Albanese said a review into counter-terrorism laws was “certainly under way” and was “substantial”.