Rockliff Gov Must Listen to Royal Commission Calls on Firerams

In the wake of the Bondi terror attack, the Greens, Labor, and many independent MPs have all spoken in strong support of capping firearm ownership as proposed at National Cabinet. But despite Police Commissioner Donna Adams also recommending this approach, the Rockliff Government has refused to implement it.

In its new report, the Royal Commission into this horrific attack recognises that the proposed national buyback scheme is specifically intended to support limits on both the number of firearms individuals can own and the types that are legal*. It goes on to make a direct recommendation that state and federal governments should make it a priority to implement the scheme as proposed.**

Not only has the Royal Commission now provided its support to a national buyback scheme with caps on firearms ownership, it has also called out the argument being used by the Rockliff Government to justify their current approach – We’ve heard the Premier and the Police Minister saying they don’t want to impact ‘legitimate’ firearms owners, but the Commission has pointed out the flaw in that argument and the clear risks with firearms being too readily available ***

The firearms policies proposed by the Tasmanian Government so far are simply not sufficient for public safety. And despite originally raising concerns about Tasmanian taxpayers footing the bill for a buyback scheme, the Liberals have now gone their own way on a voluntary buyback that may not attract any financial support from the Federal Government.

Fully signing up to the national buyback scheme, including limits on firearm ownership, is an approach that now has the support of the Royal Commission, the Tasmanian Police Commissioner, the Police Association, the Greens, Labor, and many independents. We also know a strong majority of Tasmanians support the scheme. The Rockliff Government needs to stop playing politics and get on board with this important community safety reform.

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*”The Scheme was intended to support the proposals agreed by National Cabinet, in particular to: • limit the types of guns that are legal, including modifications, and • limit the number of firearms able to be held by any one individual.” [page 97]

**”Recommendation 14 – The Commonwealth, states and territories should prioritise efforts to implement the proposed National Gun Buyback Scheme.” [page 98]

***There may be concerns that these reforms will increase the regulatory burden on legitimate firearms owners and users, including those who require the use of firearms for their livelihood, such as primary producers. However, the use of licensed firearms in the attack at Bondi, as with many previous attacks and mass-casualty shootings, highlights the risks inherent in the availability of firearms. [page 93]