Tasmanian Liberals ‘evasive over secret shooter deals’

Tasmania’s main political parties have pledged not to weaken firearm laws, but gun control advocates remain concerned the Liberals have given secret undertakings to shooter groups.

Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Tasmania’s main political parties have pledged not to weaken firearm laws, but gun control advocates remain concerned that the Liberal Party has given secret undertakings to shooter groups.

Labor and the Greens have provided written undertakings that they have not made any commitment to shooters to water down gun laws after Saturday’s state election.

Liberal Premier Peter Gutwein provided a written guarantee not to “do anything to undermine the principles of the National Firearms Agreement” but stopped short of saying his party had not promised changes.

After further questioning from The Australian, a Liberal Party spokesman went further, saying: “We will not weaken ­Tasmania’s gun laws.” However, Gun Control Australia spokesman Roland Browne said it remained concerning that the Liberals would not reveal what commitments, if any, they had given to the gun lobby.

“I refuse to believe the Premier — they have not been clear,” Mr Browne said. “They had the chance … to confirm no agreements or deals had been reached with shooters (and) they would not give that confirmation.

“I have asked publicly what their plans are for gun laws. They have not responded.

“Four days before an election and on the 25th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre, the Premier owes us an honest … answer.

“No more tricky language. The ALP and the Greens have responded clearly and unequiv­ocally. Why can’t Premier Gutwein?”

 Mr Browne said the Tasmanian Liberals had “form” in making secret deals with shooter groups to water down gun laws.

On the eve of the last state election, in March 2018, The Australian revealed just such a policy had been agreed with gun groups but not released publicly.

It was later abandoned but at the time then-premier Will Hodgman insisted the changes, including 10-year licences, silencers and easier access to military weapons, did not breach the NFA. 

“This policy was in breach of the NFA and involved a weakening or watering down of Tasmania’s gun laws,” Mr Browne said. “They need to say they’ve made no agreements with shooting groups to make changes to gun laws (or) they should tell us what they have in mind if they are contemplating changes.”

In a letter to Mr Browne, Mr Gutwein said: “Our overriding principle in relation to any proposed changes to the law continues to be that we will not do anything to undermine the NFA.”