Member for Geraldton, Kirrilee Warr MLA, has welcomed key concessions secured by The Nationals WA from the Cook Labor Government, following sustained pressure over the rollout of Labor’s new firearms laws.
Ms Warr said the re-opening of the firearms buyback would bring much-needed relief to firearms owners and dealers who were blindsided by Labor’s rushed and confusing regulatory changes.
“Despite repeated refusals from the former Police Minister to consider a further buyback, I welcome the decision by the new Minister to listen to reason and extend this program,” Ms Warr said.
“This will ensure owners and dealers caught out by the sudden ban on rapid release and push-button firearms, or other firearms owners who were simply waiting to see the detail of the regulations before they made a decision, have an opportunity to receive compensation for their loss.
“The Minister must also make it clear whether those who surrendered their firearms between January and March this year will be able to retrospectively access the buyback.”
Ms Warr also confirmed the State Government had agreed to delay the implementation of the new Firearms Act regulations, originally due to come into force on March 31, by 90 days.
“This is a clear admission that the Government’s legislation was not ready to be implemented, despite their repeated claims to the contrary.
“This delay allows more time to properly explain these 307 pages of complex regulations to the firearms community and ensures that law-abiding firearms owners are not at risk of criminal penalties.”
Ms Warr said The Nationals WA will continue to push for Labor’s firearms laws to be axed, and called on the Minister to deliver workable, evidence-based laws which genuinely improve community safety without unfairly punishing responsible firearms owners.
“The Minister has an opportunity to reset the Government’s relationship with the firearms community after years of hostility and contempt under his predecessor,” Ms Warr said.
“These laws have been chaotic from the outset, and Labor’s last-minute backflips only confirm what firearms owners in Geraldton and the Mid-West have been saying all along – these laws were rushed, poorly communicated, and out of touch with reality on the ground.”
