❓ Dr. Thomas questions the Minister for Police regarding the transition of existing gun licenses under the 1973 Act to the new Firearms Act 2024, specifically concerning the functionality and transparency of the online portal. The Minister provides data on transition progress and clarifies the portal's role.
AnsweredQoN 553Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Firearms Act—Licence applications553.Hon Dr Steve Thomasto theminister representing
the Minister for Police:I refer to the
avoidance of a real answer to my question without notice 510, asked on 13 August
2025, which states:I refer to the difficult firearms
licensing and registration portal associated with theFirearms Act 2024.(1) As at 12 August 2025 for all gun
categories …(1) Since 31 March 2025, how many existing gun
licence holders under the 1973 act have, via the portal:(a) attempted transition;(b) had their transition determined or finalised
by WA police;(c) had their transition granted by WA police; and(d) had their transition rejected by WA police?(2) How many gun licence transition requests
received via the portal are awaiting determination?(3) Given my question yesterday was obviously
asking about the licensing and registration portal, was the minister simply
attempting to hide the real numbers?The President:Visitors in the public gallery are
welcome to the Legislative Council, but could you move to your seats quickly
and quietly and sit down immediately. Quietly, thank you.
the Minister for Police:I refer to the
avoidance of a real answer to my question without notice 510, asked on 13 August
2025, which states:I refer to the difficult firearms
licensing and registration portal associated with theFirearms Act 2024.(1) As at 12 August 2025 for all gun
categories …(1) Since 31 March 2025, how many existing gun
licence holders under the 1973 act have, via the portal:(a) attempted transition;(b) had their transition determined or finalised
by WA police;(c) had their transition granted by WA police; and(d) had their transition rejected by WA police?(2) How many gun licence transition requests
received via the portal are awaiting determination?(3) Given my question yesterday was obviously
asking about the licensing and registration portal, was the minister simply
attempting to hide the real numbers?The President:Visitors in the public gallery are
welcome to the Legislative Council, but could you move to your seats quickly
and quietly and sit down immediately. Quietly, thank you.
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 August 2025
Response time
0 days
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:I thank the member
for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.(1) (a) As of 14 August 2025, 42,780 firearms
licence holders have been written to by the Western Australia Police Force to
commence their transition and 23,900 accounts have been created on the firearms
portal.(b)–(c)As of 8 August
2025, 9,137 licence holders have successfully completed transition. A further
1,896 have been granted extensions in time, 2,705 have closed their licence and
992 licence holders are being recontacted as no reply has been received.(d) Zero.(2) Transitionof aFirearms Act 1973firearms licence to aFirearms
Act 2024firearms authority licenceoccurs outside of the firearms portal. The portal is a
communications platform between an existing firearms licence holder and or/applicant
and the Western Australia Police Force and provides a licence holder an insight
into their licence.(3) The Western Australia Police Forcewill provide all information and data that is requested of it by the
Western Australian Parliament.
Firearms Act—Licence applications
for some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.(1) (a) As of 14 August 2025, 42,780 firearms
licence holders have been written to by the Western Australia Police Force to
commence their transition and 23,900 accounts have been created on the firearms
portal.(b)–(c)As of 8 August
2025, 9,137 licence holders have successfully completed transition. A further
1,896 have been granted extensions in time, 2,705 have closed their licence and
992 licence holders are being recontacted as no reply has been received.(d) Zero.(2) Transitionof aFirearms Act 1973firearms licence to aFirearms
Act 2024firearms authority licenceoccurs outside of the firearms portal. The portal is a
communications platform between an existing firearms licence holder and or/applicant
and the Western Australia Police Force and provides a licence holder an insight
into their licence.(3) The Western Australia Police Forcewill provide all information and data that is requested of it by the
Western Australian Parliament.
Firearms Act—Licence applications
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