The Nationals election statement
The Nationals understand there are many people who have a right to own and use firearms. The Nationals consider that use by primary producers and for recreational sports shooting and hunting to be a legitimate, genuine and justified use of firearms. Recreational sports shooting and hunting 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’ organisations are playing in enforcing a code of ethics, which promotes the safe use of firearms, adherence to laws and regulations and 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/territory 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 be given to the thousands of law-abiding and responsible owners and users who want to ensure their activities are both safe and respected.
In the wake of any firearms crime that receives media attention, we will do our best to ensure that legal firearms users are protected from being victimised by proxy. The Nationals consider that existing laws are adequate and that critics should focus on law enforcement, rather than law-abiding licensed firearms users.
The establishment by the previous Coalition Government of an advisory council involving sporting shooters ensured that firearms users were able to present themselves to the general public and to the government as a responsible element. 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 has public respect.
The Nationals are the only party that seeks to represent the 7.5 million people who live outside the capital cities. As such, we are best placed to act as advocates to ensure the views of firearm owners and users are represented in Federal Parliament.
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