State Government says Tasmanian firearm laws inquiry will continue

The State Government says the inquiry into Tasmania’s firearm laws will continue despite the resignation of committee member Braddon MP Adam Brooks and the architect of its pre-election gun policy ex-police minister Rene Hidding.

Michael Ferguson

The State Government says the inquiry into Tasmania’s firearm laws will continue despite the resignation of committee member Braddon MP Adam Brooks and the architect of its pre-election gun policy ex-police minister Rene Hidding.

In February the Mercury reported that Mr Brooks’s resignation had thrown a spanner in the timetable of a Lower House inquiry with witnesses, due to give evidence in the middle of February, being told the hearings were deferred.

MORE: BROOKS’S RESIGNATION STALLS REVIEW OF FIREARMS LAWS

Yesterday Labor’s Shane Broad said the Government needed to re-establish the firearms committee at the first sitting of parliament on March 19.

Braddon Labor MP Shane Broad. PICTURE: CHRIS KIDD

Mr Broad, on the committee with Liberal MP Mark Shelton and Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff, said proroguing parliament had left the probe in limbo.

“It has been a shaky road for the firearms committee with it being disbanded by the Upper House, reinstated by the Lower House, then hearings delayed by the resignation of Adam Brooks,” Dr Broad said.

Adam Brooks. Picture: NIKKI DAVIS-JONES

Rene Hidding. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

“Now the architect of the Liberals’ failed firearms policy Rene Hidding is also gone, we have serious concerns over whether this inquiry will now go ahead.”

The inquiry was due to report back on March 14.

Police Minister Michael Ferguson said it was “ridiculous” to claim the committee would be abandoned.

“We have publicly said that all committees will resume when parliament returns,” Mr Ferguson said.