Tasmanian Government to support Legislative Council inquiry on gun laws
The Hodgman Government has agreed to more consultation on its controversial gun laws proposal.
Tasmania
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NEW Police Minister Michael Ferguson says the State Government will support an Upper House inquiry into proposed changes to gun laws.
Legislative Councillor Ivan Dean has said he will move to establish a select committee on the reforms on the first day of the new Parliament.
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The Liberal Party released a policy easing restrictions on firearms owners to shooting groups in the weeks before this month’s election. It only became public the day before the poll.
The proposed changes include an extension of licence periods and the downgrading of some offences to infringements.
Mr Ferguson told the Sunday Tasmanian the Government would support Mr Dean’s inquiry.
“The Hodgman Liberal Government understands firearms laws are a very emotive issue for all Tasmanians and we are committed to engaging in extensive consultation before any legislation is tabled,” he said.
Gun Control Australia’s Roland Browne has said the proposed changes would breach the 1996 National Firearms Agreement implemented after the Port Arthur massacre.
The NFA specifies a maximum licence period of five years, while the Liberal policy would increase that to 10 years.
The availability of semiautomatic weapons to target shooters, silencers to farmers and currently banned guns to “specialists” would all breach the NFA, Mr Browne has said.
Mr Ferguson’s move appears to be the first step in the Hodgman Government’s plan to improve relations with an Upper House that blocked key legislation during the last Parliament.
“We have made it very clear we will not do anything that puts Tasmanians at risk or is inconsistent with the National Firearms Agreement, and the inquiry will be a chance for everyone concerned to have their say on these proposals,” Mr Ferguson said.
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