Ms BADGER question to PREMIER, Mr ROCKLIFF
[10.11. a.m.]
It’s not clear how your government arrived at some of your announced firearms reform measures, for example, the 150 per cent market value rebate on firearms through the buyback scheme. This generous offer is more than any other state has been able to afford or offer. Has the federal government agreed to co-funding reimbursing Tasmanian firearms owners based on the 150 per cent market value figure, what proportion will the federal government be paying, and will you commit to your government bringing in legislation on firearms reform before the federal government’s July deadline for co-funding?
ANSWER
Honourable Speaker, I thank the honourable member for her question. With our objectives about 1.5 times the value, we very clearly want, as much as possible, to get those types of firearms out of the community; it’s a very clear incentive.
Notwithstanding that, we’re categorising that firearm to category C, which makes it far more difficult to obtain that firearm and the extra incentive along with the buyback, albeit not caps – and we’ll have that discussion a little later on, I believe, with a motion by Mr Di Falco – was to incentivise the handing back of firearms in the community, the more high-powered firearms such as that which was used in the Bondi tragedy and other firearms as well.
What we have also said is that we do not want to impact on law abiding firearms owners in Tasmania. We made that very clear right from the beginning in a statement I made following the Bondi tragedy, and we must always remember those who are still grieving and will always grieve those who’ve lost their loved ones, not to mention the hurt that the Jewish community are still feeling around that and their history as well.
We will sit down and work with the federal government around the buyback scheme to ensure they make a co contribution in the spirit of firearms reform and I look forward to those discussions.
Supplementary Question
Ms BADGER – That’s fantastic that you will be having those discussions with the federal government, but can you please outline how that will roll out, given the impending July deadline for co funding? The second part of that question which you didn’t get to was will you commit to your government bringing in legislation on firearms reform before that July deadline for the federal government co funding?
Mr ROCKLIFF – Yes, that’s our intention; we’re aiming towards that. I stand to be corrected, but that is what I am advised and that’s our intent. Our Police minister is in a police ministers’ meeting at this present time and I’m sure that is coming up for discussion, no doubt within that framework. I’m sure the Police minister would be happy to update you on those discussions at the best and most appropriate available opportunity.
