Home›Questions on Notice›QoN 2895

❓ Hon Aaron Stonehouse questions the Minister for Police regarding the closure of gun shops and restrictions on ammunition purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly concerning land owners managing pests. The Minister's answer indicates the restrictions have been revoked.

AnsweredQoN 2895Legislative Council

Asked

16 April 2020

Member

Hon Aaron Stonehouse

Portfolio

Police

QuestionView source ↗

I refer the Minister to the decision to close all gun shops in Western Australia, issued by Commissioner Dawson on 27 March 2020, and I ask: (a) is the Minister aware that by limiting who is eligible to purchase ammunition and other firearms equipment to only those who can prove that primary production is their main source of income, it excludes those who own multi-thousand acre properties that, while not their primary source of income, still requires the use of firearms to manage pests and feral species; and (b) given the above, is the Minister willing to grant exemptions to those who have proven that hunting or shooting on land the owner has given permission for that purpose, or land they can prove to own, and to those who have this listed as their approved genuine reason for possessing a firearms licence?

AnswerView source ↗

Answered

12 May 2020

Responded by

Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Police

Response time

2 days

(a)-(b) The Gun Shop Directions, issued by the Commissioner of Police in his capacity as State Emergency Coordinator, have been revoked.
Under the Directions (No.2), the power to grant an exemption was vested in the State Emergency Coordinator or a person authorised by the State Emergency Coordinator.

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