The Alannah & Madeline Foundation welcomes Premier Chris Minns' assurance that NSW gun laws will not be watered down, along with his commitment to meet with Walter Mikac AM.
With the Hunting Bill being reviewed by parliamentary committee this week, Premier Minns can quickly act on this assurance by unequivocally rejecting the Hunting Bill in its entirety. Anything less would be pandering to the gun lobby and a grave betrayal of public safety.
"Nothing in the Bill warrants the government's support. There is no public interest. It is not about conservation. It is not about environmental protection. It is a blatant push by vested interests and will unwind the bipartisan legacy of the National Firearms Agreement." said Mr Mikac.
The bill poses a serious threat to public safety with alarming provisions such as:
- The establishment of a Conservation Hunting Authority, controlled by hunting organisations and the gun lobby.
- Enshrining a "right to hunt" in direct contradiction to the National Firearms Agreement and NSW's own Firearms Act.
- The creation of a Minister for Hunting and Fishing, effectively a government advocate for the commercial shooting industry.
- Opening Crown land, forests and public hand to hunting, overriding current land management plans and consultation processes
These dangerous changes mirror the failed 2020 Hunting Bill and represent the most regressive gun policy since the Port Arthur tragedy.
Walter Mikac, who lost his wife and daughters in Port Arthur, said:
"This Bill is a Trojan horse for the gun lobby. The government should be protecting public safety, not trading it away."
Premier Minns must not allow the integrity of NSW's firearm laws to be compromised by political horse-trading. The NSW minority government should not be manipulated by the gun lobby seeking to undermine public policy and public safety.
We welcome the opportunity to meet with the Premier and expect him to follow through on his statement by making it clear, in public and in Parliament, that this Bill will be rejected outright.
The people of NSW deserve leadership, not concessions. Their safety is not up for negotiation.
