Labor’s hastily concocted Firearms laws have sparked chaos and confusion amongst Western Australia’s recreational shooters, farmers and graziers, pest controllers and wildlife carers since regulations were gazetted last December.
The Nationals WA have been standing with lawful firearms owners right from the outset, when the laws were first introduced to Parliament in February 2024.
Shane Love, Leader of the Nationals WA, appealed for the regulations to be delayed but they were released just days out from Christmas on 21 December – in a blatant attempt to avoid scrutiny.
“I have promised, in public forums across the state, to contest these regulations at the first available sitting day. I will now fulfil that commitment to the thousands of law-abiding firearms owners whose livelihoods and recreational options have been thrown into disarray.
Next week, on Wednesday 21 May I will move that the Firearms Regulations 2024 be disallowed.
“We’ve been here before with the Cook-Labor Government’s ill-considered rollout of the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act – Labor’s arrogant failure to listen caused unnecessary and avoidable distress and division across regional WA,” said Mr Love.
“The new firearms regulations are plagued by similar flaws – rushed processes, poor communication, and outright contempt for regional communities.
The ripple effect has seen pushback from General Practitioners who are now faced with the onerous task of assessing the mental health of firearms owners.
While it may have seemed simple to subjugate the outrage of firearms owners, Minister Whitby now faces scrutiny from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) who have raised serious concerns about how the Firearms Authority Health Assessment requirements (FAHA) will affect GPs.
Under the FAHA GPs are expected to assess both physical and mental health history including impulse control, explains Mr Love.
“Regional GPs are already under resourced and under pressure. This legislation puts them in an untenable position where they will be forced to make a judgement call on the future behaviour of people who reside in their communities.
“At a time when we are encouraging openness about mental health, particularly amongst young rural men, I am concerned this requirement will shut down honest conversation before it begins,” said Mr Love.
Mr Love said his office had also received many reports about police overreach in relation to firearms ownership.
“Heavy-handed tactics have already been displayed. Dealers have been threatened with the loss of their licenses, families have been inundated with misleading bulk texts, and in some cases, up to a dozen officers have been deployed to homes without notice, or due cause.
The Nationals WA have always supported community safety and sensible firearm regulation. In fact, it was The Nationals who first called for the Law Reform Commission review which recommended the need for a modernised, balanced Firearms Act.
But Labor’s legislation is not balanced. It ignored key Law Reform Commission recommendations, imposed punitive red tape, and does nothing meaningful to improve community safety.
Instead, it punishes responsible owners, dealers, farmers, pest controllers, sporting shooters, collectors, and regional communities. There are people who depend on firearms for legitimate work and recreation, and who have always complied with the law.
The Nationals will continue the fight for fairer, more balanced firearms regulations.
