❓ Opposition questions the government's firearm buyback scheme announcement via media before parliamentary consultation, alleging lack of transparency and questioning feedback consideration. Minister defends the process, citing prior public information and consultation.
AnsweredQoN 18Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
FIREARMS — BUYBACK PROGRAM
The SPEAKER : Are there any
questions?
Mr R.S. LOVE : Madam Speaker.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of the
House—sorry, the Leader of the Opposition!
Mr P.J. Rundle : You've
been promoted!
Mr R.S. LOVE : I do not know
that it is a promotion!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Well, I think
that was a promotion—there you go.
18. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Police:
Very good! Thank you, Madam
Speaker. I refer to the government's proposed firearm reforms that have
not been introduced into Parliament, have not been provided to the opposition
nor a briefing offered, yet the detail of which appears to have been provided
to the state's media, including the announcement of a buyback scheme
that we are left to presume is detailed in the legislation.
(1) How is it
that the minister's government has yet again prioritised a splash in The
West Australian over bipartisan consultation on reforms?
(2) Noting
reports concerning WA police deleting submissions without reading them, how
confident is the minister that every piece of feedback provided to them was
appropriately considered?
The SPEAKER : Are there any
questions?
Mr R.S. LOVE : Madam Speaker.
The SPEAKER : The Leader of the
House—sorry, the Leader of the Opposition!
Mr P.J. Rundle : You've
been promoted!
Mr R.S. LOVE : I do not know
that it is a promotion!
Several members interjected.
The SPEAKER : Well, I think
that was a promotion—there you go.
18. Mr R.S. LOVE to the Minister for Police:
Very good! Thank you, Madam
Speaker. I refer to the government's proposed firearm reforms that have
not been introduced into Parliament, have not been provided to the opposition
nor a briefing offered, yet the detail of which appears to have been provided
to the state's media, including the announcement of a buyback scheme
that we are left to presume is detailed in the legislation.
(1) How is it
that the minister's government has yet again prioritised a splash in The
West Australian over bipartisan consultation on reforms?
(2) Noting
reports concerning WA police deleting submissions without reading them, how
confident is the minister that every piece of feedback provided to them was
appropriately considered?
AnswerView source ↗
(1)–(2) The nature of the Leader of the Opposition's
question is a little confusing. First, what was announced today was the detail around a buyback scheme that was
reported in November or December last year. The amount that would be
appended to the buyback scheme was in the midyear financial review. It was a publicly
available document and it was reported in the media, albeit it did not get much
coverage. The splash the member refers to with The West Australian was
on page 7, I think. It was a small report on the left-hand side of the page. Essentially, I did some media
today about illegal gambling dens that were busted last year and I was
asked about the buyback scheme. We are responding to questions about that
today. All that happened today was that some detail was provided around what
would be available for firearms owners in the buyback depending on the age and
nature of their firearm; that would dictate what amount they would get. The
proportions available are pretty much commensurate with the Howard era buyback—how
old the firearm is and if it is up to a certain age people will be offered a proportion
of the original value. If it is more than six years old, they will be offered a
lesser proportion. That is commensurate with what was offered in the Howard
era; it is pretty generous. It will not pay for what an individual purchased a firearm
for, but it will offer a buyback.
The most important element to
remember is that it is completely voluntary; no-one has to do this. The Leader
of the Opposition talked about how somehow we have surprised people with the
content of the impending legislation. A consultation paper was open for people
last year with all manner of detail as to what was being considered in the
legislation. The Leader of the Opposition is right. He has not been given a briefing
because we have not introduced the legislation to Parliament. The legislation
will be introduced and then he will get a briefing.
question is a little confusing. First, what was announced today was the detail around a buyback scheme that was
reported in November or December last year. The amount that would be
appended to the buyback scheme was in the midyear financial review. It was a publicly
available document and it was reported in the media, albeit it did not get much
coverage. The splash the member refers to with The West Australian was
on page 7, I think. It was a small report on the left-hand side of the page. Essentially, I did some media
today about illegal gambling dens that were busted last year and I was
asked about the buyback scheme. We are responding to questions about that
today. All that happened today was that some detail was provided around what
would be available for firearms owners in the buyback depending on the age and
nature of their firearm; that would dictate what amount they would get. The
proportions available are pretty much commensurate with the Howard era buyback—how
old the firearm is and if it is up to a certain age people will be offered a proportion
of the original value. If it is more than six years old, they will be offered a
lesser proportion. That is commensurate with what was offered in the Howard
era; it is pretty generous. It will not pay for what an individual purchased a firearm
for, but it will offer a buyback.
The most important element to
remember is that it is completely voluntary; no-one has to do this. The Leader
of the Opposition talked about how somehow we have surprised people with the
content of the impending legislation. A consultation paper was open for people
last year with all manner of detail as to what was being considered in the
legislation. The Leader of the Opposition is right. He has not been given a briefing
because we have not introduced the legislation to Parliament. The legislation
will be introduced and then he will get a briefing.
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