- Firearm reform places public safety above all else
- Western Australia becomes first jurisdiction in Australia to
impose a limit on the number of firearms an individual can own
- New laws disarm serious offenders and introduce a raft of
new requirements to enhance monitoring and regulation of gun use
- Mandatory training
and regular health checks to be introduced as well as stricter storage and
authorisation requirements for licence holders
- Close to 14,000 firearms surrendered as part of Cook
Government's ongoing multimillion-dollar voluntary firearms buyback scheme
The strictest gun laws in
the nation have passed the Parliament of Western Australia, ensuring thousands
of firearms are removed from the community.
In a nation-leading move, the number of guns an individual can own will
be restricted depending on their licence type. Primary producers and
competition shooters can have up to 10 firearms while recreational hunters are
restricted to five.
The complete rewrite of WA's
50-year-old Firearms Act has also seen the introduction of Mandatory
Disqualifying Offences and Orders (MDOs), which strip guns from the hands of serious
offenders such as family and domestic violence perpetrators.
Under the changes, anyone who
applies for a gun licence must complete mandatory firearms training. All owners
will also be required to undergo a regular health assessment and comply with
new storage requirements.
Supported by a multimillion-dollar
digital licensing and management system, an overhaul of the corrupted 'property
letter' system gives power back to landowners and lease holders so they can
control who enters and shoots on their property.
In advance of the legislation passing, the
State Government had already doubled the penalties for gun crime, outlawed very
high-powered firearms and introduced Firearm Prohibition Orders to target
underworld figures.
To date, close to 14,000 guns from more than 8,000 people have been sold
to the State Government as part of the ongoing voluntary firearms buyback
scheme.
The $64.3 million buyback offers licensed gun owners up to $1,000 to
hand in their weapon and remains open until 31 August 2024.
Comments attributed to Premier
Roger Cook:
"For the first time, Western Australia's firearms laws elevate public
safety above the privilege of owning a gun.
"I'm unapologetic for our safety-first approach which strengthens gun
controls and enhances public safety.
"Sadly, in recent years, we've seen the devastating consequences resulting
from the misuse of firearms in our community.
"Those tragedies highlight the need to remove guns from people who don't
have a legitimate reason for owning one.
"Passing this legislation is a momentous occasion, and I'm proud to lead
a Government committed to improving safety for current and future generations
of Western Australians."
Comments attributed to Police
Minister Paul Papalia:
"Beginning with the 2016 Law Reform Commission Review, these laws have
been years in the making.
"The consultation process for our historic rewrite of the State's 50-year-old
Firearms Act has been long and extensive. I want to thank everyone who's been
involved for their valuable contributions, particularly the Primary Producers
Advisory Board, peak firearms bodies and community safety advocates.
"The reform removes thousands of unnecessary
guns from our community while also enabling the legitimate and responsible use
of firearms.
"Our new laws make WA a safer place for everyone and will benefit
future generations for decades to come."
Comments attributed to
Police Commissioner Col Blanch:
"The unlawful use of guns poses a significant risk to
my officers and the community.
"These laws enable WA Police to better manage,
monitor and catch people who do the wrong thing.
"The digital management system designed to support the new legislation
will give responding officers real-time access to firearm licensing data,
providing them with greater situational awareness during emergencies.
"The legislation makes Western Australia safer for the public and
officers responding to dynamic situations on the frontline."
