Gun registration Tasmania: Paper scheme could hold back National Firearms Register, Gun Control Australia says

“Who uses carbon paper in 2023”: Efforts at implementing a national firearms register, fast-tracked in the wake of the Wieambilla shootings, could be hindered by Tasmania, a gun control group says.

Roland Browne was a Legal Aid Lawyer and founder of the Coalition for Gun Control (now Gun Control Australia), and was involved with the Port Arthur response in 1996. Picture: Chris Kidd

Tasmania’s use of a paper-based gun registration system could potentially hold up efforts for a national computerised firearms registration scheme, Gun Control Australia says.

GCA vice-president Roland Browne says Tasmania was the only state still relying on paper forms and carbon copies for firearms registration.

Police ministers from around the nation are expected to meet within the next fortnight to finalise plans for a National Firearms Register scheme, which was fast-tracked after the murder of three police in Queensland in December 2022.

“This implementation process was flagged early in the year. It is also clear Tasmania is way behind the other states and territories in our firearms control database systems,” Mr Browne said.

“The fact Tasmania is still using paper and carbon paper to keep a track of licences and registration of firearms is an embarrassment. Who uses carbon paper in 2023?”

Mr Browne said Tasmanian needed to set aside money to update its system to introduce a long-overdue public safety measure.

Firearms seized from a Launceston address, February 18, 2023. Picture: Tasmania Police

In a reply to a letter from Mr Browne, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management Felix Ellis said the data on paper forms was entered into police computer systems.

“While paper forms are used for licence renewal applications and similar matters, please be assured that all licence records are managed using the Firearms and Weapons Database System (FAWDS) and electronic document management systems,” he said.

“The FAWDS system is already integrated with the Australian Firearms Identification Network to contribute to the online national picture of firearms ownership in Australia.

“As Tasmania Police continues to consider the requirements of the proposed NFR, please be assured that work has commenced on how FAWDS may be replaced with the NFR and an electronic ‘end-to-end’ file management system.’