The Alannah & Madeline Foundation and the Australian Gun Safety Alliance are very disappointed and concerned by the NSW Liberal Party’s backflip on firearm safety.
NSW Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane has promised to halt the state’s gun buyback, due to begin on 2 November, until a commission of inquiry has reported back, and to remove ownership limits for primary producers and sporting shooters. This is despite the Liberal Party voting with the Government to support firearm caps and the buyback last year following the Bondi Beach tragedy.
The Liberals’ plans to freeze the state’s gun buyback and scrap gun ownership caps for sporting shooters and farmers would unwind reforms supported by the vast majority of voters and put the community at greater risk of harm. Two-thirds of Coalition voters this month reported supporting the tough new gun laws (Resolve Political Monitor for The Sydney Morning Herald).
The evidence shows that more firearms in the community is directly associated with increased harm. The buyback and ownership caps are designed to reduce the number of firearms in the community, a key factor in the risk of theft, diversion to the illegal market, and firearm-related family violence and suicide. Freezing the scheme and carving out exemptions for entire categories of licence holders would undo the intent of reforms agreed to by National Cabinet after Bondi.
Senior Advocacy Advisor and Convenor of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance Stephen Bendle said exempting primary producers and sporting shooters from ownership caps would undermine the evidence base for the reforms.
“Implementing a cap on the total number of firearms an individual can own is a sensible, evidence-based reform that makes a real difference to public safety,” he said. “If one group of licence holders can be exempted for political reasons, it raises the question of who is next.
“We have seen this pattern before, in Tasmania and in Victoria, where sound, evidence-based reform has been watered down under pressure from the gun lobby. National consistency on firearms only works if every state and every party holds the line.”
We are calling on all NSW parties to commit to implementing the firearms reforms agreed to by National Cabinet in full, including the buyback and ownership caps, ahead of the state election.
Media enquiries
Amy Johnston | 0409 950 586 or [email protected]
