Hon Ben Dawkins questions the definition of 'dangerous views and opinions' in proposed firearms reforms, particularly regarding police power to revoke licenses. The Minister clarifies the term isn't used, but 'views and opinions' will be assessed for public safety in the fit-and-proper test.

AnsweredQoN 1407Legislative Council
Asked
9 November 2023
Portfolio
Police

QuestionView source ↗

FIREARMS ACT —
REFORMS
1407. Hon BEN DAWKINS to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to the proposed firearm
reforms and the power for police to revoke a firearms licence if the holder has
''dangerous views and opinions''.
(1) Will the minister provide a list
of defined ''dangerous views and opinions''?
(2) If no to (1), will the Commissioner of Police of
the day subjectively decide what is a dangerous view or opinion?
(3) If no to (2), how will ''dangerous
views and opinions'' be defined?

AnswerView source ↗

I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following information has been provided by the Minister
for Police.
(1)–(3) The
Western Australia Police Force advises that the term ''dangerous views
and opinions'' does not appear in the consultation paper and nor is it
used by the agency in regard to the reforms to the Firearms Act. However, the
terms ''views and opinions'' will be used in the fit-and-proper
test for a person's suitability to hold a firearms licence and will be
assessed with regard to public safety.

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