❓ The Premier outlines proposed reforms to Western Australia's firearm laws, including limiting firearm ownership, new license types, stricter storage, a buyback scheme, overhauling the written authority system, health checks, and compulsory training, aiming to reduce gun violence and ensure community safety.
AnsweredQoN 746Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIREARMS ACT —
REFORM
746. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
proposal to strengthen Western Australia's outdated firearm laws.
Can the Premier outline to the house
the new measures proposed under the proposed laws, and explain how these
measures will protect the WA community from gun violence?
REFORM
746. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Premier:
I refer to the Cook Labor government's
proposal to strengthen Western Australia's outdated firearm laws.
Can the Premier outline to the house
the new measures proposed under the proposed laws, and explain how these
measures will protect the WA community from gun violence?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question;
it is an important one. I think that we all give thanks that we do not live in
a community such as those in North America that see such a prevalence of gun
violence. I am determined to make sure that Western Australia will never become
like that. To do that, we have to make sure that we are active and proactive,
putting in place important laws to ensure that we can keep Western Australians
safe. That is our priority as a government: keeping Western Australians safe.
Although Western Australia is not
America, we have seen what can happen when firearms get into the wrong hands and the obvious yet preventable danger they
represent. We need to do everything we can to ensure that firearms can
be owned only by responsible citizens. Firearms are a privilege, not a right.
We will do everything we can to protect Western Australia's status as a
gun-safe community; therefore, my government will continue to strengthen its
firearm laws, which are already the best in the nation.
My government's proposed
reforms will deliver the toughest firearm laws in the nation. They will involve
a complete rewrite of the Firearms Act and will build on other initiatives,
like outlawing very high powered firearms from 1 July 2023 and introducing
firearm prohibition orders that target crime figures and serious domestic
violence offenders.
Today, we take that work further. We
will start a process to consult on further proposals to protect the public from firearms. We have a range of proposals under
the completely rewritten firearms legislation. Firstly, Western Australia will become the first jurisdiction in the country to limit the number of
firearms that a licensed firearm holder can own.
Secondly, we will have new licence types, which will be tailored to reflect the
specific needs of different firearm owners. Thirdly, there will be new
and more stringent storage requirements for firearms. Fourthly, we will fund a voluntary
firearm buyback scheme, with further details to be released in the new year.
Another
key component is the overhauling of Western Australia's corrupted
firearms written authority letter system . In its current form, the
firearms property letter system has been exploited and corrupted over decades.
There have been far more property letters distributed than are required for
vermin control. As the Minister for Police recently pointed out, one property
of just 100 acres in the south west of the state issued more than 2 200 letters
to authorise people to shoot on that property. What makes it even worse is that
someone could purchase the property and not know that the previous owner had
already allocated letters to firearms owners to go on that property and utilise
that firearm. It is not only a ridiculous and corrupted situation, but also a dangerous
situation.
In addition to that reform, we are
also making sure that we introduce health checks, which will be required every
five years, and that will include a mental health component. Compulsory
firearms training will be introduced in the licence application process.
Members, these historic gun reforms
will mean fewer guns in the wrong hands and that, I am sure all members will
agree, can only be a good thing. I want to thank the Minister for Police for
the great work that he has done in overhauling these laws and putting this
great reform into place. I also thank all the stakeholders in the community who
participated in the consultation process, which gives us the confidence as a government
to bring these laws forward. I look forward to everyone being able to
participate in the consultation process that will move forward as a result of
the tabling of the policy document.
it is an important one. I think that we all give thanks that we do not live in
a community such as those in North America that see such a prevalence of gun
violence. I am determined to make sure that Western Australia will never become
like that. To do that, we have to make sure that we are active and proactive,
putting in place important laws to ensure that we can keep Western Australians
safe. That is our priority as a government: keeping Western Australians safe.
Although Western Australia is not
America, we have seen what can happen when firearms get into the wrong hands and the obvious yet preventable danger they
represent. We need to do everything we can to ensure that firearms can
be owned only by responsible citizens. Firearms are a privilege, not a right.
We will do everything we can to protect Western Australia's status as a
gun-safe community; therefore, my government will continue to strengthen its
firearm laws, which are already the best in the nation.
My government's proposed
reforms will deliver the toughest firearm laws in the nation. They will involve
a complete rewrite of the Firearms Act and will build on other initiatives,
like outlawing very high powered firearms from 1 July 2023 and introducing
firearm prohibition orders that target crime figures and serious domestic
violence offenders.
Today, we take that work further. We
will start a process to consult on further proposals to protect the public from firearms. We have a range of proposals under
the completely rewritten firearms legislation. Firstly, Western Australia will become the first jurisdiction in the country to limit the number of
firearms that a licensed firearm holder can own.
Secondly, we will have new licence types, which will be tailored to reflect the
specific needs of different firearm owners. Thirdly, there will be new
and more stringent storage requirements for firearms. Fourthly, we will fund a voluntary
firearm buyback scheme, with further details to be released in the new year.
Another
key component is the overhauling of Western Australia's corrupted
firearms written authority letter system . In its current form, the
firearms property letter system has been exploited and corrupted over decades.
There have been far more property letters distributed than are required for
vermin control. As the Minister for Police recently pointed out, one property
of just 100 acres in the south west of the state issued more than 2 200 letters
to authorise people to shoot on that property. What makes it even worse is that
someone could purchase the property and not know that the previous owner had
already allocated letters to firearms owners to go on that property and utilise
that firearm. It is not only a ridiculous and corrupted situation, but also a dangerous
situation.
In addition to that reform, we are
also making sure that we introduce health checks, which will be required every
five years, and that will include a mental health component. Compulsory
firearms training will be introduced in the licence application process.
Members, these historic gun reforms
will mean fewer guns in the wrong hands and that, I am sure all members will
agree, can only be a good thing. I want to thank the Minister for Police for
the great work that he has done in overhauling these laws and putting this
great reform into place. I also thank all the stakeholders in the community who
participated in the consultation process, which gives us the confidence as a government
to bring these laws forward. I look forward to everyone being able to
participate in the consultation process that will move forward as a result of
the tabling of the policy document.
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