Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA says the Cook Labor Government’s response to the Parliamentary Committee report into the Firearms Act 2024 is a clear admission the legislation was mishandled from the start.
Mr Love said while the Government had agreed to some recommendations, its long awaited response failed to address the real problems facing thousands of licensed firearm owners trying to navigate the new system.
“From the very beginning this legislation has been botched,” Mr Love said.
“The rushed process and lack of genuine consultation created confusion and left law abiding Western Australians feeling like they were being treated as criminals.”
Mr Love said the Committee hearings exposed serious unintended consequences of the new laws that the Government had failed to properly address.
“We heard evidence that mandatory health assessments are discouraging some people from seeking mental health care, particularly in regional areas where services are already stretched,” he said.
“We also heard that many GPs are reluctant to participate because of unclear responsibilities and legal concerns, on top of existing doctor shortages and heavy workloads across Western Australia.”
Mr Love said the Government’s decision to reconvene the Health Assessment Working Group was an acknowledgement that the mandatory mental health assessment model was flawed.
“If the system was working, the Government would not need to go back to the drawing board.”
Mr Love said the Government had also failed to properly respond to the Committee’s recommendation for a dedicated funding stream to help sporting shooting clubs comply with the new laws.
“Shooting clubs are vital community organisations across Western Australia, but many will struggle to meet the new requirements without targeted financial support,” he said.
Mr Love said the inquiry also revealed ongoing confusion around licensing arrangements for conservation volunteers and veterinarians, with potential consequences for pest control and the humane euthanasia of injured wildlife.
“The Government has thankfully admitted there needs to be an education strategy regarding this.”
“Much of this chaos could have been avoided if the Government had taken the time to properly consult with the firearms sector before forcing these laws through Parliament.”
Mr Love said the Committee recommendations did not go far enough to fix what remains fundamentally flawed legislation.
“It’s the bare minimum the Government implements these recommendations and still leaves major issues unresolved.”
“The Cook Labor Government created this mess, and it is their responsibility to fix it.”
Mr Love said The Nationals WA would continue to stand with law-abiding firearms owners across the State.
