❓ Question regarding the licensing of firearms that will become illegal, specifically focusing on the rationale behind initial approvals and subsequent policy changes. The answer clarifies the WA Police Force's evolving interpretation of licensing requirements.
AnsweredQoN 1275Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
I refer to the media statement of the Minister for Police on 14 February 2023 entitled 'New firearms crackdown to bolster public safety', and I ask: (a) of the 248 licensed firearms that will become illegal from 1 July 2023, how many were subject to an application that commenced on or after 11 March 2017; and (b) noting your comment contained in the media statement 'The Western Australian Police Force has informed me there is no practical need for these specific very high-powered firearms in WA', on what basis did WA Police establish that a 'genuine reason' and if applicable a 'genuine need' existed in licensing these 248 firearms?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
14 March 2023
Responded by
Minister for Emergency Services representing the Minister for Police
Response time
1 days
The Western Australia Polcie Force advse:
(a) 88
(b) The WA Police Force identified an increasing number of applications for very high-powered firearms in 2017 and undertook an analysis of the 'genuine reason' and 'genuine need' sighted on the applications. The analysis indicated that an incorrect interpretation of Bent v Commissioner of Police [2011] WASAT 143 had led to the approval of applications that should otherwise have been refused. Subsequently, in 2018 a policy position was implemented to critically review applications for very-high powered firearms, which resulted in multiple application refusals and subsequent appeals to the State Administrative Tribunal. Some of those appeals remain ongoing.
(a) 88
(b) The WA Police Force identified an increasing number of applications for very high-powered firearms in 2017 and undertook an analysis of the 'genuine reason' and 'genuine need' sighted on the applications. The analysis indicated that an incorrect interpretation of Bent v Commissioner of Police [2011] WASAT 143 had led to the approval of applications that should otherwise have been refused. Subsequently, in 2018 a policy position was implemented to critically review applications for very-high powered firearms, which resulted in multiple application refusals and subsequent appeals to the State Administrative Tribunal. Some of those appeals remain ongoing.
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