Tasmanian Government abandons plan to water down gun laws

UPDATED: THE State Government has backed away from its controversial reform of firearm laws which caused outrage among survivors of the Port Arthur massacre.

UPDATED: THE State Government has backed away from its controversial reform of firearm laws which caused outrage among survivors of the Port Arthur massacre.

Premier Will Hodgman has not ruled out changes after the completion of a Legislative Council inquiry but said nothing would be done to undermine the National Firearms Agreement.

“We understand that there are deeply held concerns about public safety, and in an area as important to Tasmanians as gun laws, public confidence in our laws is essential,” Premier Will Hodgman said.

“Our firearms laws are among the toughest in the world and that is how they should remain.”

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On the eve of the state election in March it was revealed that the Liberals had plans to double the duration of some gun licences and make weapons such as pump-action shotguns more readily available.

Tony Rundle, the premier at the time of the Port Arthur massacre, welcomed the backdown.

When the reform plans became public he said they were a betrayal of Port Arthur victims.

“I think that is a wise decision, it was a political fight the Government did not need to have and I think they have made the right decision to back away from the (Rene) Hidding proposals,” he said.

Former Tasmanian premier Tony Rundle.

Mr Rundle said that the National Firearms Agreement had been a hard-won measure after the death of 35 people at Port Arthur.

‘There was a lot of political skin lost bringing them in so after the angst of getting the legislation in place any loosening of the gun laws was a betrayal of the victims of Port Arthur and could also have encouraged other states to have a look at their legislation,” he said.

“Most states are under pressure from the gun lobby and it could have encouraged other states to look at their gun laws.”

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Gun Control Australia spokesman Roland Browne said the organisation was very pleased the government had abandoned its plans.

“These plans leaked out just before the March 2018 state election, and were revealed only to some gun lobby groups,” he said.

“I’m glad they’re listening to the community, rather than just the gun lobby.

“This is an issue of national importance. The gun lobby tries to get one state to water down its laws, and then uses that as a basis to undermine laws in another state.

“The National Firearms Agreement is not a bargaining chip for a government in an election campaign.

“People across the political spectrum share a common demand to live in a safe place.

“It’s not a safe place when the government is looking to introduce silencers, semi-automatic rifles and to weaken its own storage laws and double the life of gun licences from five to 10 years.”

However, Shooters Union Tasmania president Alistair Shephard said the backflip proved that politicians were willing to say what they think would garner more votes, and then backflip in the face of emotional rhetoric from the public and other lobbying groups.

“On behalf of law-abiding firearm owners across the state, we are very disappointed to learn today about the Liberal Government’s decision to backflip on its election promise to make common sense changes to Tasmania’s firearms legislation,” he said.

“However, we are not surprised.”

Medics for Gun Control spokesman Phil Pullinger welcomed the announcement.

“We urge the Tasmanian Government, rather than weaken gun laws, to now focus on how to further reduce injuries and deaths from guns through upholding and strengthening the National Firearms Agreement,” Dr Pullinger said.

Premier Will Hodgman, right, with his then Police Minister Rene Hidding on the road during the state election campaign earlier this year. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association chief executive Peter Skillern said the organisation would tell the Legislative Council inquiry how firearms laws could be practical, ensure community safety and also be within the context of the National Firearms Agreement.

Labor Police spokesman Shane Broad labelled the move as a “humiliating backflip”.

“By dumping his dangerous firearms policy late on a Friday afternoon, Michael Ferguson is admitting failure on yet another poorly drafted and consulted Liberal policy,” Dr Broad said.

“The Liberals will say anything to anybody to get elected – this embarrassing policy blunder proves just that.”

Greens justice spokeswoman Rosalie Woodruff said the policy backflip had come only after the Premier was taken to court for failing to provide any police advice to back the changes.

Mr Hodgman said the State Government would make a submission to a Legislative Council Inquiry into Firearms Law Reform.

“The Government will review firearms policy after consideration of recommendations from the Committee,” Mr Hodgman said.

Mr Hodgman said there had been more than a dozen occasions since 1996 where firearms laws had been updated.

“There may be practical improvements to be made to Firearms Laws recommended by the Committee inquiry,” he said.

EARLIER: THE Tasmanian Government has backed away from a proposal to water down the state’s gun laws.

The Liberals in March revealed plans to double the duration of some gun licences and make weapons such as pump-action shotguns more readily available.

“We understand that there are deeply held concerns about public safety, and in an area as important to Tasmanians as gun laws, public confidence in our laws is essential,” Premier Will Hodgman said in a statement today.