Tasmania
The Tasmanian Government have announced a Firearms Consultative Committee with nine inaugural members, including SSAA National Chair, Andrew Judd.
The new committee comes in the wake of last year’s Bondi terrorist attack and recent firearm legislative changes at a federal level, including a buy-back scheme.
The Tasmanian Government has been cautious about their involvement in the buy-back scheme, especially in relation to the expected cost and the need to protect legitimate gun users such as farmers and recreational shooters.
The announcement comes after Minister Felix Ellis last week released the results of his own survey, with 76 per cent of respondents strongly opposed the buy back.
Minister Ellis stated the committee, which he will Chair, brings together experienced and representative Tasmanians to get the balance right between community safety and supporting responsible firearms owners.
Queensland
Firearm legislation is set to be introduced to the parliament in Queensland this week, that will mandate the need to be Australian citizens to obtain a new firearms licence, once the legislation has been finalised.
This announcement comes as the Queensland Government rejects introducing caps on firearm numbers, and the possibility of a weapons buyback, either now or in the future.
Further to this, the proposed laws will create a mandatory minimum sentence for drive-by shootings, increase penalties for stealing firearms and ammunition and for trafficking guns, and create various new offences designed to prevent ownership of 3D-printed weapons.
The laws will also allow police to take into account a person’s criminal record when issuing a licence, even if a conviction was not recorded.