The Nationals WA have labelled the Government’s last-minute amendment to allow select firearms to be authorised for more than one licence purpose as a win for firearms owners.
Leader Shane Love said The Nationals WA had lobbied extensively to retain the ability for firearms to be used across multiple licence categories.
“It’s nonsense that a person who currently uses the same firearm for both competition shooting and hunting would no longer be able to do so under Labor’s draconian new firearms laws,” Mr Love said.
“The Police Minister had repeatedly claimed his legislation would reduce the number of firearms in the community, but it would have done the opposite by forcing firearms owners to buy multiple firearms to use across multiple licence categories.
“After refusing to accept any amendments moved by The Nationals during debate in the Legislative Assembly, this move is a sensible concession from WA Labor and the first sign they are acknowledging some of the concerning aspects of this legislation.”
Mr Love also recognised the work of Member for the South West, Louise Kingston MLC, who has moved more than a dozen amendments to Labor’s contentious firearms laws this week.
Ms Kingston said amendments moved by The Nationals WA in the Upper House were aimed at increasing community safety.
“Community safety would be bolstered by recognising that offences committed in other jurisdictions outside Australia should also be disqualifying offences, however, the State Government has not indicated any support for this measure,” Ms Kingston said.
Amendments will also seek to restore the rights of recreational shooters.
“The National Firearms Agreement, of which WA is a signatory, recognises that recreational shooting is a genuine reason to hold a firearms licence, however, this licensing category has been stripped away under WA Labor,” Ms Kingston said.
“This is incredibly frustrating for the thousands of firearms owners in WA who identify as recreational shooters, who may not wish to engage competitively, but enjoy hunting or target shooting as a pastime.
“Recreational shooters generate economic activity worth up to $38 million a year in WA through the purchase of goods and services while on hunting trips, including fuel, groceries, ammunition, meals and accommodation, and much of this is spent in regional communities.” The Nationals WA are the only political Party opposing Labor’s draconian firearms laws.
