❓ Ms. Mettam questions the Premier regarding the early parole of Luke Noormets in light of recent firearm reforms and a tragic shooting. The Premier responds by highlighting upcoming firearm legislation and its potential impact, while acknowledging the limitations in preventing all illegal firearm use.
AnsweredQoN 599Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PRISONERS REVIEW BOARD —
EARLY PAROLE — LUKE NOORMETS
599. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I
refer to the government's firearms reforms announced 18 months ago and
today's announcement that anyone issued with a violence
restraining order will automatically be banned from owning a firearm. Earlier
this year, WA mother Georgia Lyall was shot dead by her ex-partner, who had
been released from jail on early parole after serving time for torturing a man
for 13 hours.
(1) Are the WA
Prisoners Review Board's decision-making processes being reviewed
following its move to grant early parole to Luke Noormets?
(2) How can
such a violent individual be released early?
EARLY PAROLE — LUKE NOORMETS
599. Ms L. METTAM to the Premier:
I
refer to the government's firearms reforms announced 18 months ago and
today's announcement that anyone issued with a violence
restraining order will automatically be banned from owning a firearm. Earlier
this year, WA mother Georgia Lyall was shot dead by her ex-partner, who had
been released from jail on early parole after serving time for torturing a man
for 13 hours.
(1) Are the WA
Prisoners Review Board's decision-making processes being reviewed
following its move to grant early parole to Luke Noormets?
(2) How can
such a violent individual be released early?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) As
I have just said, we will introduce laws that will mean that individuals like
the one that the member mentioned will not be eligible to hold a gun licence,
but, of course, that would not have stopped him. My understanding is that he
had an illegal firearm and utilised that in undertaking that criminal activity.
That is regrettable, but as the member for Vasse has just observed, we will
bring in the most comprehensive reforms of firearms legislation in over 50
years. I commend the Minister for Police for the very important work he has
done with the police force and all the stakeholders who have had input into
these laws.
We will not be able to take all
illegal firearms off the streets, but through these laws we will have much greater control and the police will have more
powers. That is why it is important that we have the opportunity to
debate these laws. They will be completed in the coming months, and we look
forward to these laws finding their way to Parliament probably at the beginning
of next year. I recommend that every member of Parliament familiarises
themselves with these laws and listens to any issues in their communities. Let
us stand resolute in making sure we have firearm laws that can, as much as
possible, eliminate the use of firearms, either illegally or legally, when it
is not necessary.
I have just said, we will introduce laws that will mean that individuals like
the one that the member mentioned will not be eligible to hold a gun licence,
but, of course, that would not have stopped him. My understanding is that he
had an illegal firearm and utilised that in undertaking that criminal activity.
That is regrettable, but as the member for Vasse has just observed, we will
bring in the most comprehensive reforms of firearms legislation in over 50
years. I commend the Minister for Police for the very important work he has
done with the police force and all the stakeholders who have had input into
these laws.
We will not be able to take all
illegal firearms off the streets, but through these laws we will have much greater control and the police will have more
powers. That is why it is important that we have the opportunity to
debate these laws. They will be completed in the coming months, and we look
forward to these laws finding their way to Parliament probably at the beginning
of next year. I recommend that every member of Parliament familiarises
themselves with these laws and listens to any issues in their communities. Let
us stand resolute in making sure we have firearm laws that can, as much as
possible, eliminate the use of firearms, either illegally or legally, when it
is not necessary.
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