The Alannah & Madeline Foundation says the Tasmanian Parliament has failed the next generation of Tasmanians after the Firearms Amendment (Strengthening Firearms Security) Bill passed the House of Assembly without a cap on the number of firearms an individual can own.
Firearms caps were supported by the Tasmanian Police Commissioner and a broad coalition of health, family violence and gun-safety organisations, including the Foundation.
An amendment limiting hunters and recreational shooters to five firearms and primary producers and professional users to ten, with an exemption for those with legitimate reasons to hold more, was voted down during debate.
The Foundation is pleased the government was forced to improve the Bill by strengthening fit and proper person tests, extending the exclusion period for family violence offences, and removing the deeply flawed grandfathering provisions.
These changes mean firearm reclassifications will now apply to guns already in the community, not just new purchases, and that stronger licensing tests will apply to people with family violence offences, firearm-related fraud convictions, unlawful firearm threats, interstate firearm prohibition orders, or behaviour recognised as a precursor to family violence.
But the Foundation remains deeply disappointed that a handful of crossbenchers sided with the government against the sound advice of the Police Commissioner, family violence advocates, public health experts and clear evidence from around the world that more firearms in a community leads to more firearm harm.
Speaking in response to the passage of this Bill overnight, senior Advocacy Advisor Stephen Bendle said:
"This Parliament has failed the next generation of Tasmanians. A cap on the total number of firearms an individual can own is a sensible, evidence-based reform that could make a real difference to public safety. It is hard to understand why the government would seek advice on the best way forward, receive a direct recommendation from the Police Commissioner to introduce a cap, and then ignore it.
"However, Tasmanians will be pleased that the ridiculous grandfathering provisions have been removed and that the Bill now includes stronger fit and proper person tests for who can hold a licence. But those improvements do not make up for the failure to include firearm caps. The Bill now moves to the Legislative Council, and we will keep pressing for a cap before these reforms are finalised."
About us:
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation was founded 29 years ago by Walter Mikac AM, and a small group of volunteers in memory of Walter's young daughters Alannah and Madeline, aged just six and three, who tragically lost their lives along with their mother and 32 others at Port Arthur in Tasmania on 28 April 1996. The Foundation was established with the belief that "all children and young people should be able to live a happy and safe life, free from violence and trauma." Our mission continues today through our Care, Prevention and Advocacy programs - we fight for their right to be safe, so their future is strong. www.alannahandmadeline.org.au
