Following questions in Parliament, the Greens are deeply disappointed inthe Ministers for the Prevention of Family Violence and Health for failing to stand with their expert stakeholders who are calling for further action on firearms in the name of public safety.
Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Spokesperson for the Prevention of Family Violence:
The Tasmanian Family and Sexual Violence Alliance has clearly called for stronger firearms regulation.
Firearms can be used in family violence incidents, including as weapons of intimidation and coercive control. It’s disappointing the Minister didn’t support her portfolio’s stakeholders’ requests for further action on firearms.
Tasmania has some of the highest rates of family and sexual violence and firearms ownership in the country. These two statistics are profound in regional areas where there is limited access to support and longer safety response time.
It’s not enough for family violence preparators to have their access to firearms taken away after an incident has occurred. Too many are never reported let alone convicted.
The Liberal Government has a responsibility to strengthen safeguards to protect victim-survivors. Preventing family violence means reducing the unlimited number of firearms currently in the community.
Cecily Rosol MP, Greens Spokesperson for Health:
Multiple health organisations have called for public health and safety to be strengthened in the government’s firearms reforms. It’s disappointing the Minister for Health did not support these calls.
Health professionals see the devastating impacts that firearms have on the community. Reducing the number of firearms in the community means preventing suicide, family violence and serious injury.
Caps on firearms can save lives. The AMA and Medics for Gun Control have both said they’d rather public health risks from firearms be prevented than have to treat the consequences in the emergency department.
We’ll continue to work with members of the Parliament to ensure public health and safety is at the forefront of any firearms reforms – not the calls of the gun lobby.
