Report on hold for poll
Sunday Times, Page: 20. Sunday, 17 August, 2008
A major review of gun laws in WA will be kept secret until after the election, police say.
The internal police review of licensing and ownership laws for firearm owners was expected to be handed to the Government by the middle of the year.
Deputy Police Commissioner Chris Dawson received a final draft in the past two weeks, but a police spokesman said it would not be released until after next month’s poll.
“Now that we have a caretaker Government, it will not be forwarded to Government until the next administration is sworn in,” he said.
“Police will not be releasing any details of the review before sending it to Government.” The review will join a long list of recommendations and legislation, including changes to the state’s controversial truth-in-sentencing laws, that has been delayed by the Carpenter Government’s decision to call a snap election.
WA has about 282,850 guns owned by nearly 77,900 licensed people.
More than 500 submissions were lodged with police for the review of whether changes were needed to the 35-year-old WA Firearms Act.
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