- Opposition Leader's silence threatens enforcement of crucial community safety laws
- Attack by Opposition MP's in State Parliament to undo firearm reforms
- Community safety is a key priority for the Cook Government
The Cook Government has condemned the Opposition for threatening to wind back firearm laws that keep the Western Australian community safer.
The new laws, the toughest firearm regime in the nation, were passed by State Parliament in June last year.
Liberal Shadow Minister Steve Thomas and Legalise Cannabis Party MP Brian Walker will move a disallowance motion in the Upper House today, in a move similar to that of the Leader of the Nationals in May that was voted down.
During that attempt, Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas stayed silent, showing no leadership in standing up against his colleagues who tried to scrap firearm laws.
Mr Zempilas voted to support the disallowance motion by Nationals leader Shane Love.
The effect of this disallowance motion is to leave WA with no working firearm laws. If the Opposition are successful, WA Police will not be able to licence, regulate or confiscate firearms.
Police will also not be able to remove firearms from serious offenders, including family and domestic violence perpetrators, if the Opposition's attempts are successful.
Almost 11,000 firearms have been returned during the new nine-month buyback period that started in April this year, while more than 5,000 licensed firearms holders have sought compensation across the metropolitan and regional areas.
These laws are designed to keep the Western Australian community safe.
Comments attributed to Police Minister Reece Whitby:
"An attempt to quash the new firearm laws in the Upper House this week is a significant test of the Opposition Leader's hold on his party.
"He claims to support tougher gun laws to keep WA safe, but has previously refused to stop his MPs from scrapping the laws, and even voted himself to disallow the laws.
"The Opposition Leader needs to show leadership and stand up to his colleagues' attempts to erode WA's community safety.
"Anything less means he is captive to his party and his obsession with playing politics."
As stated by Prevention of Family and Domestic Violence Minister Jessica Stojkovski:
"The Cook Labor Government will not back down from keeping the Western Australian community safe.
"Our firearm reforms keep guns out of the hands of violent offenders. Undoing these laws puts guns back into their hands.
"Owning a firearm is a choice. Women and children feeling safe is a right.
"The Opposition Leader has a clear choice, stand with every Western Australian who wants a safer future, or stand in the way of these laws that will save lives."
