❓ A WA parliamentary question addresses the impact of proposed mental health checks for firearm owners on mental health service access, suicide prevention, assessment frequency, and statistics on gun deaths. The government response outlines plans for a new Firearms Act prioritizing community safety and a working group to determine health assessment processes.
AnsweredQoN 66Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
FIREARMS —
OWNERS — MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
66. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to plans to require mental
health checks for gun owners.
(1) Considering
the current wait times to access mental health assessments in Western Australia,
how would this policy impact access to mental health services for those who are
actively seeking them?
(2) Can the
minister explain how taking a firearm away from a person prevents that person
from committing suicide in another way?
(3) How often and at what intervals
will mental health assessments be required for gun owners?
(4) Of the 20 gun
deaths referenced by the minister in his media release of 5 February 2023, how
many were classified as —
(a) suicides;
(b) murder–suicides;
(c) murders; and
(d) manslaughter?
OWNERS — MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENTS
66. Hon JAMES HAYWARD to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to plans to require mental
health checks for gun owners.
(1) Considering
the current wait times to access mental health assessments in Western Australia,
how would this policy impact access to mental health services for those who are
actively seeking them?
(2) Can the
minister explain how taking a firearm away from a person prevents that person
from committing suicide in another way?
(3) How often and at what intervals
will mental health assessments be required for gun owners?
(4) Of the 20 gun
deaths referenced by the minister in his media release of 5 February 2023, how
many were classified as —
(a) suicides;
(b) murder–suicides;
(c) murders; and
(d) manslaughter?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) The
McGowan government is undertaking a complete rewrite of the outdated Firearms
Act 1973 for the first time in 50 years. The new act will be based on the
principle of putting community safety first. A working group comprising
stakeholders within the health sector has been established to determine the
most effective process for the health assessments, including who will be able
to conduct them and how often they will be conducted. Advice from this group
will then inform the legislative drafting. Introducing compulsory mental health
screening for firearm owners will increase the chance of identifying someone
who should not be granted access to a firearm for safety reasons. It will also
decrease the chance of that person doing harm to themselves or others.
of the question. The following information has been provided to me by the
Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) The
McGowan government is undertaking a complete rewrite of the outdated Firearms
Act 1973 for the first time in 50 years. The new act will be based on the
principle of putting community safety first. A working group comprising
stakeholders within the health sector has been established to determine the
most effective process for the health assessments, including who will be able
to conduct them and how often they will be conducted. Advice from this group
will then inform the legislative drafting. Introducing compulsory mental health
screening for firearm owners will increase the chance of identifying someone
who should not be granted access to a firearm for safety reasons. It will also
decrease the chance of that person doing harm to themselves or others.
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