Premier says his government is committed to all election policies, including gun law changes

PREMIER Will Hodgman says he respects the views of former prime minister John Howard on gun law reform, but his government intends to deliver on all policies it took to the state election.

PREMIER  Will Hodgman says he respects the views of former prime minister John Howard on gun laws, but his government intends to deliver on all policies it took to the state election.

Mr Howard told News Corp there should be “no alteration or weakening” of Australia’s gun laws, after it was revealed on the eve of the March 3 election that the Liberal Party had circulated a policy on gun law reform that would increase the availability of some high-powered guns to farmers.

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John Howard attending an anti-gun rally on the Gold Coast in July 1996.

The proposed changes would grant greater access to Category C firearms, allow silencers, extend licence periods and treat breaches with infringement notices rather than a summons.

Mr Howard said he was “totally opposed” to any changes to relax Tasmania’s gun laws.

Mr Howard was instrumental in securing the National Firearms Agreement in the wake of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

Mr Hodgman moved responsibility for the Police portfolio to Michael Ferguson, after former police minister Rene Hidding nominated for the role of Speaker.

When asked how much leeway new Mr Ferguson would have to change the guns policy, Mr Hodgman said he would not “inhibit” his ministers.

Mr Hodgman said he respected Mr Howard’s views as the architect of the 1996 reforms, and that he would respect the nature and parameters of the National Firearms Agreement.

The gun policy was revealed in the media the day before the election, but the Mercury was unable to publish the story in the Saturday print edition due to laws prohibiting newspapers from reporting on any issue or candidate on election day.