❓ Hon. Simon O'Brien questions the Attorney General regarding the cost, number, and comparative efficiency of firearms licensing in WA, prompting a review request. The Attorney General provides cost and license numbers, and explains difficulties in comparing WA to other jurisdictions.
AnsweredQoN 367Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIREARMS — LICENCES
367. Hon SIMON O'BRIEN to the Attorney General
representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to
the Firearms Amendment Regulations 2013.
(1) What is
the total estimated cost of administering the firearms licensing system in a
full year?
(2) How many
firearms licences are on issue in Western Australia?
(3) Compared
with other Australian jurisdictions, why is there such a remarkable difference
in the cost and processing time of obtaining a firearms licence, or adding an
additional firearm to an existing licence?
(4) What is
the police department doing to reduce this glaring disparity?
367. Hon SIMON O'BRIEN to the Attorney General
representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to
the Firearms Amendment Regulations 2013.
(1) What is
the total estimated cost of administering the firearms licensing system in a
full year?
(2) How many
firearms licences are on issue in Western Australia?
(3) Compared
with other Australian jurisdictions, why is there such a remarkable difference
in the cost and processing time of obtaining a firearms licence, or adding an
additional firearm to an existing licence?
(4) What is
the police department doing to reduce this glaring disparity?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
annual cost of administering the current firearm licensing system is $6
million.
(2) As at 20
June 2013, 81 711 firearm licences are on issue. Actual firearms licensed by
those licences total 270 392.
(3) It is
difficult to make a direct comparison with other jurisdictions' fees
due to the following: licensing procedures and legislative requirements vary
from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; the structure of the fees is likely to be
significantly different between jurisdictions due to differences in processes
and methodologies used in developing their costings; WA Police does not know
the extent of cost recovery achieved by other jurisdictions—it is
possible that other jurisdictions' fees do not achieve full cost
recovery; and the term of each licence type is unique to each agency.
(4) WA
Police will continue with its current practice of full cost recovery. However,
the Minister for Police has written to the Attorney General—that is me—requesting
that the Law Reform Commission conduct a review of the Firearms Act.
honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1) The
annual cost of administering the current firearm licensing system is $6
million.
(2) As at 20
June 2013, 81 711 firearm licences are on issue. Actual firearms licensed by
those licences total 270 392.
(3) It is
difficult to make a direct comparison with other jurisdictions' fees
due to the following: licensing procedures and legislative requirements vary
from jurisdiction to jurisdiction; the structure of the fees is likely to be
significantly different between jurisdictions due to differences in processes
and methodologies used in developing their costings; WA Police does not know
the extent of cost recovery achieved by other jurisdictions—it is
possible that other jurisdictions' fees do not achieve full cost
recovery; and the term of each licence type is unique to each agency.
(4) WA
Police will continue with its current practice of full cost recovery. However,
the Minister for Police has written to the Attorney General—that is me—requesting
that the Law Reform Commission conduct a review of the Firearms Act.
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