The Nationals statement
ASJ Special Edition: Federal Election 2007
November 2007
The Nationals in Government understand there are many people who have a right to own and use firearms.
The Nationals consider recreational sports shooting and hunting to be legitimate, genuine and justified use of firearms.
These sports are important to the fabric of regional Australia and The Nationals understand the important environmental role played by hunters.
The Nationals’ approach to firearms policy seeks to strike a balance between the interests of those with a genuine need to have access to these firearms, such as sporting shooters and primary producers, and the interests of the broader community.
The Nationals recognise the outstanding work sporting shooters organisation are playing in enforcing a code of ethics, which promotes the safe use of firearms, adherence to laws and regulations and most importantly, the skills of secure firearms ownership.
Firearms control legislation remains the Constitutional responsibility of state governments and in particular, state police ministers.
Amendments to state firearms control legislation will not form part of any new policy developed by the Federal Nationals.
In any matters relating to firearms, it is the view of The Nationals that due recognition should always be given to the thousands of law-abiding and responsible sporting shooters who want to ensure their sport is both safe and respected.
In the wake of any firearms crime that receives media attention, it is the desire of The Nationals to ensure that all legal firearms users be protected from feeling that they are being victimised by proxy.
The Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals leader, Mark Vaile, when interviewed in the media on violent crime involving firearms, maintains that existing laws are adequate and that critics should focus on law enforcement rather than law-abiding licensed firearms users.
The establishment by the Howard/Vaile Government of an advisory council involving sporting shooters ensures that firearms users are able to present themselves to the general public and to the government as a responsible element.
After all, The Nationals understand that it is the shooters and the shooting clubs who have the greatest interest in seeing that their sport is properly controlled and administered, and holds public respect.
The Nationals are the only party that only seeks to represent in the Federal Parliament the 7.5 million people who live outside the capital cities.
As such, our organisation is best placed to act as advocates to ensure the views of sporting shooters are represented faithfully in our nation’s government.
The Nationals’ values are based on three principles: security, individual achievement and strong representation for local communities.
We believe in security for the nation, local communities and families.
We believe in private enterprise, a fair go and a balance role for Government.
We believe in Members of Parliament who are strong local advocates, champions for their regions and come together to act as a team.
The Nationals is a private enterprise organisation. It provides a vital balance, ensuring the interests of people living beyond the capital cities have a voice in Parliament. Without The Nationals, government policy would be determined by a substantial majority of city-based parliamentarians.
It upholds traditional values and fights for a better quality of service, opportunity and life for all people, from remote inland communities to major regional and coastal centres.
The Party has a major influence of policy and is responsible for many landmark initiatives for Australia and we will continue to represent the interests of sporting shooters and hunters.
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