❓ Hon Rick Mazza asks about WA's involvement in a national firearms amnesty, inquiring about implementation, dealer involvement, and cost recovery. The Minister responds that WA already has an informal amnesty and is progressing towards a permanent one, but details are still being finalised nationally.
AnsweredQoN 1043Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
NATIONAL FIREARMS AMNESTY
1043. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to a November 2019
announcement by the federal Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety
and Multicultural Affairs, Jason Wood, MP. Mr Wood stated that a deal between
state and territory police ministers had been reached to implement a permanent
national firearms amnesty to commence in the second half of 2020.
(1) Can the
minister advise whether Western Australia has been approached in regard to a national
firearms amnesty?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the minister advise whether Western Australia has agreed to implement
a permanent national firearms amnesty; and, if so, when will it commence?
(3) If yes to
(2), can the minister advise whether it is intended that firearm dealers will
be the place of surrender for illegal or unlicensed firearms?
(4) If yes to
(3), can the minister advise —
(a) is it
intended to permit firearm dealers to register anonymously surrendered
firearms;
(b) is it
intended to permit firearm dealers to possess anonymously surrendered firearms;
(c) is it intended
to permit firearm dealers to transport anonymously surrendered firearms to
police stations for destruction; and
(d) how
firearm dealers will be able to recoup their costs in collecting, registering,
transporting and submitting firearms for destruction?
1043. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer to a November 2019
announcement by the federal Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety
and Multicultural Affairs, Jason Wood, MP. Mr Wood stated that a deal between
state and territory police ministers had been reached to implement a permanent
national firearms amnesty to commence in the second half of 2020.
(1) Can the
minister advise whether Western Australia has been approached in regard to a national
firearms amnesty?
(2) If yes to
(1), can the minister advise whether Western Australia has agreed to implement
a permanent national firearms amnesty; and, if so, when will it commence?
(3) If yes to
(2), can the minister advise whether it is intended that firearm dealers will
be the place of surrender for illegal or unlicensed firearms?
(4) If yes to
(3), can the minister advise —
(a) is it
intended to permit firearm dealers to register anonymously surrendered
firearms;
(b) is it
intended to permit firearm dealers to possess anonymously surrendered firearms;
(c) is it intended
to permit firearm dealers to transport anonymously surrendered firearms to
police stations for destruction; and
(d) how
firearm dealers will be able to recoup their costs in collecting, registering,
transporting and submitting firearms for destruction?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for some notice of this
question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for
Police. The Western Australia Police Force advises the following.
(1)–(4) An informal firearms amnesty has operated in Western
Australia for some time. Reforms to the Firearms Act 1973 are being
progressed to create a permanent general amnesty in this state. At its November
2019 meeting, the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management
agreed to create a permanent general
amnesty. However, the national firearms and weapons policy working group on
behalf of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management
has yet to finalise the details and timing of
the amnesty. It is usual practice under firearms amnesties for firearms to be
surrendered at police stations.
question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for
Police. The Western Australia Police Force advises the following.
(1)–(4) An informal firearms amnesty has operated in Western
Australia for some time. Reforms to the Firearms Act 1973 are being
progressed to create a permanent general amnesty in this state. At its November
2019 meeting, the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management
agreed to create a permanent general
amnesty. However, the national firearms and weapons policy working group on
behalf of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management
has yet to finalise the details and timing of
the amnesty. It is usual practice under firearms amnesties for firearms to be
surrendered at police stations.
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