❓ Question regarding the response of family and domestic violence organisations to WA's firearms law reforms. The Minister's answer praises the reforms, cites support from organisations, and attacks the Liberal Party's opposition.
AnsweredQoN 377Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FAMILY AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE — FIREARMS ACT REFORM
377. Ms C.M. TONKIN to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's reforms to prevent family and
domestic violence incidents. Can the minister advise the house how
family and domestic violence prevention and support organisations in Western Australia
have responded to the government's reforms to WA firearms laws that
will make the community safer?
VIOLENCE — FIREARMS ACT REFORM
377. Ms C.M. TONKIN to the Minister for Prevention of Family
and Domestic Violence:
I
refer to the Cook Labor government's reforms to prevent family and
domestic violence incidents. Can the minister advise the house how
family and domestic violence prevention and support organisations in Western Australia
have responded to the government's reforms to WA firearms laws that
will make the community safer?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question
and for her ongoing advocacy. Members on this side of the house know that owning a gun is a privilege, whilst women feeling
safe in their homes is an absolute right. That is why these reforms are
so critically important. I have spoken to a range of organisations and
individuals who work in the family and domestic violence area and do incredible
work. They have told me how critically important these reforms are, and they
welcome them. Additionally, we all know Alison Evans from the Centre for Women's
Safety and Wellbeing. She is an incredible
advocate and champion for the prevention of family and domestic violence, and I
deeply respect the work that she does. She has welcomed the speed at
which these reforms are occurring. She said —
''The timeliness of that and
the immediacy of that is critically important �
These changes are about putting
public safety first. They are about putting women's safety first and
paramount before anything else. I know that women right across Western Australia—many
have contacted me privately—support these important changes, and the
organisations that support these women do so too.
I saw a report Last night
from 7NEWS that identified that the Liberal Party's petition to keep
guns in the community— not take
guns out of the community—is in fact riddled with fake and fraudulent
names and signatures. The Liberal
Party's lack of credibility is absolutely in plain view for all to see.
We know that it will do anything, including tabling a petition full of
fraudulent misinformation, to undermine these laws. We know the Liberal Party's
views on these laws that will help to keep women and children safe.
The Leader of the Liberal Party, the member for Vasse, even
refused to vote on those laws. She says one thing outside this place when there
is a microphone around, but runs for cover when it comes to the crunch in this
place. Of course, she is happy for her colleagues—members know those
colleagues in the other place—to do everything they can to block and
obstruct the laws. When lives are on the line, the Liberal Party is trying to
court the gun vote. When the opportunity came to stand and vote in support of
these laws, the Leader of the Liberal Party did not do so. Even today, the
Leader of the Opposition refuses to guarantee the future of these laws under
his leadership.
I challenge the member for Vasse to stand in this place today
and make a guarantee to the women of this state that a Liberal–National
government that she will lead will not wind back these laws. Get up right now
and make that guarantee! She should stand
right now, but she will not. She will not stand and give that guarantee. I tell
the member that the women of Western Australia
who support these laws want that guarantee from a government that the member for Vasse will lead, but she is not prepared to give that guarantee.
Ms L. Mettam : I supported the bill!
Ms S.E. WINTON : Not you/I; you as the leader.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms S.E. WINTON : Members, this is not just about the member for
Vasse and her position; this is about the Leader of the Liberal Party
and the leader of a future government's position. That is what is
critically at stake here. Those members in the upper place champion petitions
against these gun laws—Liberal Party petition that works to undermine these gun laws. As a leader, the
member for Vasse needs to stand and ensure that what she individually says in this place is representative of her as a leader.
Now let us be very clear what is at stake here. Of course, we
know the Nationals' position on gun laws. I do not need to ask the Leader of the Opposition for his
position. We know and he is on the record as saying that he wants to
wind back these laws if he ever gets the opportunity to be in cabinet. We know
that a vote for the Liberal and National Parties will mean a vote for more guns
in our community. The Leader of the Liberal Party shows no leadership. You are
gutless at bringing into line those in the Liberal Party in the other place to
guarantee for the women of this state that a government you lead will not wind
back these gun laws!
and for her ongoing advocacy. Members on this side of the house know that owning a gun is a privilege, whilst women feeling
safe in their homes is an absolute right. That is why these reforms are
so critically important. I have spoken to a range of organisations and
individuals who work in the family and domestic violence area and do incredible
work. They have told me how critically important these reforms are, and they
welcome them. Additionally, we all know Alison Evans from the Centre for Women's
Safety and Wellbeing. She is an incredible
advocate and champion for the prevention of family and domestic violence, and I
deeply respect the work that she does. She has welcomed the speed at
which these reforms are occurring. She said —
''The timeliness of that and
the immediacy of that is critically important �
These changes are about putting
public safety first. They are about putting women's safety first and
paramount before anything else. I know that women right across Western Australia—many
have contacted me privately—support these important changes, and the
organisations that support these women do so too.
I saw a report Last night
from 7NEWS that identified that the Liberal Party's petition to keep
guns in the community— not take
guns out of the community—is in fact riddled with fake and fraudulent
names and signatures. The Liberal
Party's lack of credibility is absolutely in plain view for all to see.
We know that it will do anything, including tabling a petition full of
fraudulent misinformation, to undermine these laws. We know the Liberal Party's
views on these laws that will help to keep women and children safe.
The Leader of the Liberal Party, the member for Vasse, even
refused to vote on those laws. She says one thing outside this place when there
is a microphone around, but runs for cover when it comes to the crunch in this
place. Of course, she is happy for her colleagues—members know those
colleagues in the other place—to do everything they can to block and
obstruct the laws. When lives are on the line, the Liberal Party is trying to
court the gun vote. When the opportunity came to stand and vote in support of
these laws, the Leader of the Liberal Party did not do so. Even today, the
Leader of the Opposition refuses to guarantee the future of these laws under
his leadership.
I challenge the member for Vasse to stand in this place today
and make a guarantee to the women of this state that a Liberal–National
government that she will lead will not wind back these laws. Get up right now
and make that guarantee! She should stand
right now, but she will not. She will not stand and give that guarantee. I tell
the member that the women of Western Australia
who support these laws want that guarantee from a government that the member for Vasse will lead, but she is not prepared to give that guarantee.
Ms L. Mettam : I supported the bill!
Ms S.E. WINTON : Not you/I; you as the leader.
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Order, please!
Ms S.E. WINTON : Members, this is not just about the member for
Vasse and her position; this is about the Leader of the Liberal Party
and the leader of a future government's position. That is what is
critically at stake here. Those members in the upper place champion petitions
against these gun laws—Liberal Party petition that works to undermine these gun laws. As a leader, the
member for Vasse needs to stand and ensure that what she individually says in this place is representative of her as a leader.
Now let us be very clear what is at stake here. Of course, we
know the Nationals' position on gun laws. I do not need to ask the Leader of the Opposition for his
position. We know and he is on the record as saying that he wants to
wind back these laws if he ever gets the opportunity to be in cabinet. We know
that a vote for the Liberal and National Parties will mean a vote for more guns
in our community. The Leader of the Liberal Party shows no leadership. You are
gutless at bringing into line those in the Liberal Party in the other place to
guarantee for the women of this state that a government you lead will not wind
back these gun laws!
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