❓ Rick Mazza questions the rationale behind minimum property size requirements for firearm licenses, particularly regarding vermin control and animal euthanasia, given safety practices and the lack of explicit legal basis. The Attorney General responds, clarifying the legal framework and safety considerations.
AnsweredQoN 927Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIREARM LICENCE — MINIMUM PROPERTY SIZE
927. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Attorney
General representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to the firearms licensing
division's policy on minimum property size required for applications
for a firearm licence.
(1) Where in the Firearms Act 1973
or Firearms Regulations 1974 does it describe this requirement?
(2) What is the
rationale behind this requirement considering that a licence holder can use the
firearm on any part of the property, including along boundaries near roadsides?
(3) Why are landholders being denied adequate firearms
for the humane destruction of vermin or euthanising sick or injured stock on
the basis of property size when, regardless of the firearm used, it is an
essential practice that backdrops are used to ensure a projectile does not
leave the property regardless of its size?
(4) Considering (3), what are the
perceived safety outcomes of limiting particular calibres to property size?
927. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Attorney
General representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to the firearms licensing
division's policy on minimum property size required for applications
for a firearm licence.
(1) Where in the Firearms Act 1973
or Firearms Regulations 1974 does it describe this requirement?
(2) What is the
rationale behind this requirement considering that a licence holder can use the
firearm on any part of the property, including along boundaries near roadsides?
(3) Why are landholders being denied adequate firearms
for the humane destruction of vermin or euthanising sick or injured stock on
the basis of property size when, regardless of the firearm used, it is an
essential practice that backdrops are used to ensure a projectile does not
leave the property regardless of its size?
(4) Considering (3), what are the
perceived safety outcomes of limiting particular calibres to property size?
AnswerView source ↗
On behalf of the Minister for
Police, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) There
is no specific provision in the Firearms Act 1973 designating the minimum
property size required for applications for a firearm licence. Section 11A(2)
of the Firearms Act outlines the requirement for a genuine reason, and
subsection (3) outlines the requirement for justification of each particular
kind of firearm and ammunition. The Firearms Act 1973 requires licence holders
to use firearms with appropriate levels of safety, including not shooting from,
to or across any roads or not shooting on land belonging to others without
their express permission.
(3) Western Australia
Police only licenses firearms that are appropriate for the genuine reason and
justification outlined in the application. Police licensing services consider
the then Department of Agriculture's ''Guidelines for the safe
use of firearms'' to ensure firearms are appropriate for the animals
sought to be killed and licences are issued based upon suitability for the safe
killing of the nominated animals.
(4) Outcomes include effective
destruction of animals, appropriate ammunition and public safety.
Police, I thank the honourable member for some notice of the question.
(1)–(2) There
is no specific provision in the Firearms Act 1973 designating the minimum
property size required for applications for a firearm licence. Section 11A(2)
of the Firearms Act outlines the requirement for a genuine reason, and
subsection (3) outlines the requirement for justification of each particular
kind of firearm and ammunition. The Firearms Act 1973 requires licence holders
to use firearms with appropriate levels of safety, including not shooting from,
to or across any roads or not shooting on land belonging to others without
their express permission.
(3) Western Australia
Police only licenses firearms that are appropriate for the genuine reason and
justification outlined in the application. Police licensing services consider
the then Department of Agriculture's ''Guidelines for the safe
use of firearms'' to ensure firearms are appropriate for the animals
sought to be killed and licences are issued based upon suitability for the safe
killing of the nominated animals.
(4) Outcomes include effective
destruction of animals, appropriate ammunition and public safety.
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