In less than a week, on 31 March, more than 90,000 law-abiding Western Australians will be expected to comply with a new and overhauled Firearms Act.
Yet, just days out from implementation, key stakeholders – including firearms owners, dealers, clubs, and even WA Police – are still struggling to understand how these laws will work.
With a new Police Minister, Reece Whitby, now responsible for enacting this legislation, and a new Parliament where regional voters have clearly rejected WA Labor’s arrogance, it’s time to hit pause.
If even WA Police cannot confidently explain how this Act will be administered, then the Cook Labor Government has a serious problem on its hands.
The responsible course of action is simple: delay the implementation of these new laws and allow time for proper consultation and communication with stakeholders.
Unfortunately, we’ve been here before. The rushed rollout of Labor’s Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act – which The Nationals WA warned would cause chaos – ended in a humiliating backflip from the Premier.
Labor refused to delay that legislation, only to scrap it weeks later under public pressure. Their failure to listen caused unnecessary distress and division across regional WA.
We’re now watching history repeat itself.
The firearms reforms are plagued by the same flaws – rushed processes, poor communication, and outright contempt for regional communities
The Government has failed to provide even basic clarity on how the Act will function, and worse still, firearms owners could face criminal penalties simply for being confused by a law that was poorly communicated and poorly written.
WA Police claim they’ve established a support hotline, yet firearms owner report it goes unanswered, or provides vague and contradictory advice.
The 307 pages or regulations were dropped just before Christmas, and key details are still unclear.
Worse still, police have said all firearms owners will only be contacted after the laws come into effect.
That’s not consultation. That’s setting people up to fail.
Let’s not forget the heavy-handed tactics already on display. 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.
And then there’s Labor’s last-minute regulation banning rapid-release and push-button firearms, a move which blindsided owners and dealers alike.
These legally licensed firearms have now been lumped into the same category as bazookas and hand grenades, yet just weeks before the ban, WA Police were still issuing new licenses for these firearms, collecting fees from dealers and owners for firearms they secretly planned to ban, without compensation.
This isn’t good policy, it’s government-sanctioned theft. Dealers are stuck with stock they cannot sell, transfer or return. WA Labor has shrugged off the impact, claiming it is “unapologetic” for the frustration and financial impact they have caused, proving once again how out of touch they are with regional residents and responsible firearm owners.
Labor MPs continue to misrepresent The Nationals WA, falsely claiming we want to introduce an American-style gun culture. Nothing could be further from the truth.
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, imposes 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.
Minister Whitby now has an opportunity to reset. He should take the time to meet with firearms owners, listen to their concerns, and genuinely engage with a community that has been treated with nothing by contempt by his Government.
He will find there is no wild west in WA, just responsible, everyday people who deserve respect, not vilification.
The Nationals WA will continue to oppose these laws, and we will move a disallowance motion in Parliament when it returns.
But with Labor’s numbers in the Lower House, it will take more than parliamentary process. It will take political will from the new Minister to put these flawed laws on hold and deliver the clarity and consultation this community deserves.
It’s not too late for WA Labor to do the right thing, but time is running out.
