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What have your politicians have been saying? This page lists what our politicians have been saying about the shooting sports, as nothing beats having accurate records. Yes, we intend to hold them accountable for what they say... "We all know [the proposed fee increase for firearm dealers] is brought about because the government wants to move to cost recovery, but if that is the case, we must have the most antiquated, out-of-date and expensive licensing regime in this country. " Andrew McIntosh, (Kew, MLA), Opposition spokesperson for Police and Emergency Services List is sorted alphabetically by surname) Peter Walsh speaks out on the RSPCA's approach to duck hunting (14/11/08)
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... and now, for the rest of them ... Victorian MPs |
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Greg Barber State, Greens (Northern Metropolitan MLC) "I think the police should crawl up your backside with a microscope before they renew your licence for five years." Greg Barber Media release, 11/10/07
"[I observed that] within a few short days of the Labor government releasing its policy document Hunting and 4-Wheel Driving Opportunities in Victoria, the Country Alliance announced where its preferences were going - and they were going to the
Labor Party ahead of certain other parties in certain electorates, which just turned out to be those electorates
where the Labor Party needed them the most." "The Country Alliance is nothing but a Trojan horse for the former Shooters Party. Look at some of its members and even candidates. Of course it is not particularly up-front about it. Of course it does not put firearms up there near the top of its website and in its policies and so forth." "I am sure that if we were writing policy and we made up a group [for the Firearms Consultative Committee] of slightly different members — let's say members of the AMA (Australian Medical Association) or victims of firearm violence — we would get a very different set of recommendations." "[It is a] bill that offers no protection and no confidence to the
ordinary person that firearms are not in the hands of the wrong people." "In my preferred world people would not be
storing hundreds and thousands of weapons at private residences ..." "This does not take into account that other group of gun enthusiasts out there — people who are enthusiastic about weapons because of the sense of power it gives them. They are the ones we really have to worry about. They are the ones who feel a little bit more powerful and a little bit more in control knowing that they have a gun at hand. Martin Bryant was one of those. We need to start
writing a policy that targets those types of individuals." "I think every five years you should have to go in there, and I think the police should crawl up your backside with a microscope before you get your licence extended for another five years. If necessary they should make very intrusive inquiries into your personal situation and all sorts of changes to personal circumstances. We will not be supporting that amendment. The two major weaknesses in our gun laws are the abysmally low level of training that is required before you are granted a shooters licence and then the
organisational structure under which those guns can be legally acquired. Under the Greens scheme the number
of people who would be eligible to use a gun and access one would be limited. If that were the case, then the
sources under which firearms could be stored would be more limited and the people who they buy them from
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Candy Broad State, ALP (Northern Victoria MLC) "I think the indication from the Combined Firearms Council of Victoria that its members generally support the amendments contained in the bill indicate that the consultative committee very much deserves congratulation for the work it has undertaken. It is not just me saying that, but stakeholders, and that is a very good outcome." "However, there is nothing in the national firearms agreement that would prevent streamlining the administrative procedures around the licensing process." "That is the reason I believe these amendments, which
have been sought by licensed shooters, are significant in terms of building on that support in the wider community." Upper House, on Firearms Amendment Bill 11/10/07 |
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Christine Campbell State, ALP (Pascoe Vale MLA) "With those few words, I commend in particular the firearms consultative committee. It has achieved an excellent result in that it has managed to get pretty much universal support for this legislation." Christine Campbell Lower house debate, 19/10/05 |
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Richard Dalla-Riva State, LP (Eastern Metropolitan MLC) "This is not, as I said, to soften the bill or to soften anything associated with the management or the control of handguns, but there is certainly a good opportunity for us as legislators to perhaps claw back some of those areas that we have lost sight of in the overall debate on handgun and firearm control." Richard Dalla-Riva Upper House, on the Firearms (Amendment) Bill 2/12/03 "The argument that automatic renewal would reduce the time spent by Victoria Police in processing renewal applications is short-circuited by the fact that Victoria Police would be undertaking a lot more spot checks, as it were — going to a lot more effort on sample checks on firearm owners" "... but the practicalities are such that, while it might be intended to reduce the amount of time spent by Victoria Police and licensed firearm owners, it may have the inadvertent outcome that the police will spend more time undertaking sample reviews, spot checks and the like on those firearm licence-holders" "I just hope the CFCV sees the light in terms of understanding that this government has a different agenda [with respect to the future of duck shooting] to what may appear on the surface." Richard Dalla-Riva
"Fees are meant to closely match the cost of administering licences, but a fee increase of this magnitude [for firearm dealers] is a bit hard to believe. It sends the message to the firearm community that the administration of the department is inefficient." "The 647 per cent fee hike on gun dealer licences will make Victorian fees the most expensive in the country, easily trumping South Australia, whose fees were
previously the most expensive at $5700. As a comparison, New South Wales dealers are only charged $500 and in Queensland the fee is $143. If these fee hikes apply, then it is estimated that 80 per cent of firearm dealers will be driven to the wall and as a result
there may be the potential for the loss of jobs. It also means that in order to recoup the cost of the rise in dealership fees there will be an increase in firearm prices, and this will hurt many in the community, especially the farming community. If there are closures
of rural gun dealerships, farmers will be forced to travel much further to get their firearms." "I believe these fee increases are poorly thought out and do not take into account the fact that many small dealers operate part time."
Richard Dalla-Riva | ||
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Phillip Davis
State, LP (Eastern Victoria MLC) Liberals announce firearm safety awareness commitment - 12 August 2006 | ||
 | Nazih Elasmar State, ALP (Northern Metropolitan MLC) "I agree with Mr Finn's statement that there are good men in Victoria who carry a shooting licence. I do not say that because I have a licence, but because there are people who have a firearms licence and care for and work for the community. They undertake many hours of voluntary work, and they are well respected — and a large number of them live in my electorate." Nazih Elasmar | ||
 | Bernie Finn State, LP (Western Metropolitan MLC) "The point has to be made that just because somebody has a gun, it does not put them in a category of being sub-human. Just because somebody has a gun, it does not make them a potential mass murderer. Just because somebody has a gun, it does not put them in the category of being a pathological criminal. There are thousands - perhaps hundreds of thousands - of shooters in my part of Melbourne but also throughout Victoria and Australia who are good, law-abiding people who would not think for one moment about breaking any law and who have the utmost respect for the principles that enshrine the rule of law in this country." "However, we have heard and we have seen over the past decade, or a little bit more, a good number of them demonised - demonised from Canberra, and demonised from various Parliaments around this country." "For the government to step in and demonise these people purely because they are pursuing a recreation that they have a right to pursue is wrong; it is clearly wrong." "I am hopeful that this legislation we are debating today will go some way toward easing their minds, although as I say, and I think as Mr Hall said earlier in this debate, there is still a considerable way to go." "We have a situation where every five years, I think it is, people have to go through the paperwork all over again, employing so many for hours, weeks and months on something that is so unnecessary - .. I would certainly hope that Prime Minister, upon his re-election later this year, will take this on board. Indeed if it goes the other way and KEVIN07 is elected as Prime Minister, then one would hope that even he will say, 'Me too' — he has said 'Me too' to everything else — and jump on board to make this matter a far easier proposition for people who are, as I say, legitimate operators." "Let us put our efforts into ensuring that these illegal weapons, which I am told are everywhere, are cracked down on in a huge way. Quite frankly I do not think that police command is putting anywhere near the sort of energy it should into this" Bernie Finn | ||
 | Christine Fyffe State, LP (Evelyn MLA) "I have grown up around guns all of my life and so have all my children. As a child in England we used guns for target shooting and to shoot rabbits for meat. Often that was the only meat we had during that week and so we had to use them. Always along the way safety was of prime consideration." Christine Fyffe | ||
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Danielle Green State, ALP (Yan Yean MLA) "I turn now to the reasoned amendment proposed by The Nationals. I must say that I am particular surprised and actually a little bit disappointed by it .... Members of the government thought that there was pretty much unanimity of agreement. The reasoned amendment has really come from left field -- or should I say right field -- in that The Nationals are proposing a reasoned amendment in relation to automatic licensing. I think that there is an element of grandstanding here which is not necessary at all because it is not something that has been particularly called for by stakeholders. "
"It is important to recognise that these matters are dealt with under a national firearms agreement and that there is a basic requirement under that agreement for licences to apply for only a five-year period." Lower House debate, 19/9/07 | ||
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Matthew Guy State, LP (Northern Metropolitan MLC) "They [shooting organisations] promote firearm safety as an absolute must. It is worthwhile placing on record my record for those organisations in our community that promote firearm safety rather than talking them down, as some have. It is also important that we acknowledge that you do not solve a problem regarding firearms by demonising those who are adhering to the law and going out of their way to comply with it, and make sure that the laws and regulations that govern firearms are tight, strong and contemporary, keeping up with the views of modern society." "There are also people in our community who use firearms for enjoyment, such as those who are involved with clay target shooting and pistol clubs. All those activities are heavily regulated to ensure that firearms are handled and stored in a very safe manner. Those clubs are the greatest advocates of firearm safety in our community. It is worth putting that on the record for future reference." "If we have any criticisms of the bill, they are not criticisms of what is in the bill but rather of what is not on the bill. We have some concerns about the
administrative burden of implementing parts of the legislation. We also have concerns regarding the resources of the registration system - they are not addressed by the bill." Upper House, on Firearms Amendment Bill, 11/10/07 | ||
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Peter Hall State, NP (Eastern Victoria MLC), Leader of the National Party in Upper House Handgun reform: has not achieved objectives - 2 December 2003 Hall endorses Firearms Consultative Committee - 15 November 2005 "I wish to put on record my firm view and that of my colleagues in The Nationals that there is no need for further controls on firearm ownership and that we reject the Prime Minister's comments." "It is the view of The Nationals that it is the illegally held firearms rather than the legally held ones in our community that may present some concern and risk. We support moves to clamp down on illegally held firearms, but believe that any further measures to restrict the legal ownership and use of firearms as totally unwarranted." Peter Hall Upper House, Members Statements 3/5/06 "... some of those changes have placed some rather onerous conditions on firearm ownership and use and there has been some resentment out there in the community. One can understand exactly why that resentment is being experienced. Nevertheless, I pay the greatest commendation to the various firearms user groups who I think have responded very responsibly and fairly and have been more than accepting of what have been some onerous conditions imposed upon them. To that extent I commend them for the way in which they have responded." "I note that the Sunday Age of 24 June, following the tragic shooting of Brendan Keilar in the central business district area of Melbourne, ran extensive stories about illegal firearm ownership in Australia ... the real problems we have in this country with firearms are in regard to their illegal ownership, illegal importation and illegal use. Perhaps there should be a greater focus of attention from parliaments, at both federal and state levels, to address these problems rather than imposing further restrictions on legal and responsible firearm users." "When you have a consultative process in place, you can usually achieve some decent outcomes. Mr Pete Steedman chairs that consultative committee - he is a character in himself, and he will not mind my saying that, but he gets the job done. Although I am not sure whether the committee agrees with all these amendments, because we do not know that, at least it has been consulted and has worked with the Department of Justice and the government in developing these amendments. It is helpful that people who have an interest in firearms have generally been consulted and, I presume, ticked off on most of these amendments." "They [The CFCV] express the views of firearm owners in a very responsible way. Having a single voice speaking for those groups has been helpful for both government and opposition in addressing some of the deficiencies in firearm legislation in this state." "I would hope to see the government continue to work with organisations like the Combined Firearms Council of Victoria, the Firearms Consultative Committee and others to try to address the issues they raise as part of an ongoing process. I encourage the government to look closely at those amendments that the Combined Firearms Council of Victoria (CFCV) has not been prepared to support and see if there are future opportunities to address its ongoing concerns." Peter Hall Upper House, on the Firearms Amendment Bill 11/10/07 | ||
 | David Hodgett State, LP (Kilsyth MLA) "The debate surrounding firearms is always about a balance between respecting the recreational aspects of shooting and the community's expectations of having in place a strong regulatory regime to protect the community. It is about enhancing community safety while preserving the privileges of responsible firearms owners. That is an important point to note." David Hodgett | ||
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Geoff Howard State, ALP (Ballarat East MLC), Parliament Secretary for Agriculture Duck season should be banned - 2 November 2003 Howard supports Labor's duck season policy (to allow duck season) - 3 November 2003 Howard acknowledges conservation workers of hunters (he eats humble pie) - 12 November 2006 Massive dealer fee increases torpedoed Geoff Howard goes out on limb to reassure shooters that government will not adopt massive fee increases - 29 March 2008 | ||
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Peter Kavanagh State, DLP (Western Victoria MLC) "In terms of recreational users, the DLP supports the option for responsible firearm users to own guns where they are properly regulated. Like Mr Finn, we believe that such people should not be vilified and that there are many good, decent citizens who own guns for recreational purposes and there should be no assumption that they are somehow potential criminals." "On the basis of the above I intend to support Mr Hall's amendment. It relates to a rather unnecessary and unproductive restriction on licensing that is not conducive to public safety." Peter Kavanagh | ||
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David Koch State, LP (Western Victoria MLC) "I know that at the Victorian state election in 1996, for instance, there was through the ballot box in regional areas especially a movement of the vote away from the conservative parties, which related directly to the ownership and use of firearms." "I have to talk with increased annoyance about the do-gooders who are doing their best to take this recreational pursuit [duck shooting] away from many in regional Victoria and from many people from metropolitan Victoria who for recreational purposes come out and join us on these great occasions." "It is important that licence renewals are made easier wherever possible. Getting a new licence for your firearms, although not difficult, can be quite time consuming. Having renewed my licence in just the last three weeks, I can advise the house that we have to supply more evidence for the use of firearms than for anything else that is registered in our names. I think somewhere that can be tidied up." "The Nationals have moved amendments in the lower house and also here today. In principle some of these should be looked at, because some recognition of making it easier to renew those licences - more on a national basis than on a state basis - is important. The national firearms agreement of 1996 only ever made provision for a five-year licence. Motor vehicle licences can now be for up to 10 years. There is a difference with our boating licences. Where industry licences are available, they are open-ended for the likes of forklifts, front-end loaders and so on. A reasonable argument exists for The Nationals amendment to be given consideration at a later date. I believe this legislation should always be under review and modified wherever it can better the opportunity for firearm users and licence-holders." "I certainly could not support Mr Barber's comments this morning. Mr Barber's principal concern is that unwittingly he might shoot himself in the foot with one of these instruments, not that I would wish that on anyone. The line he took this morning - leading the house to believe that there may be no legitimate use for firearms, be it in metropolitan or in regional Victoria - worries me. I certainly do not agree with his thoughts there. I believe there is a legitimate use. The farming community will continue to require firearms. Sporting shooters should be given the opportunity to enjoy their recreational activities." David Koch I note the Treasurer’s answer and therefore ask: given that licensed category A and B longarm and general category handgun dealers face an increase in fees of 647 per cent, or in dollar terms seeing the current three-year licence fee of $965 rising to $7209, does the Treasurer acknowledge that these exorbitant fee increases by the Department of Justice on licensed firearm dealers are not fair or reasonable and will hit rural communities hard? David Koch | ||
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Andrew McIntosh State, LP (Kew MLA), Opposition spokesperson for Police and Emergency Services "I say from the very outset that the use of firearms is very much a legitimate activity when they are used in accordance with the law. It is a wonderful recreational activity, and we all celebrate victories at the Olympic Games by people such as Michael Diamond and others, including Russell Mark, who has now become familiar in Victoria as a commentator on ABC radio." "The concept [of automatic licence renewals in the context of moving towards full cost recovery] is not being ruled out at this stage, and as I said I look forward to ongoing discussions with The Nationals, the Combined Firearms Council of Victoria, the consultative committee and other interested stakeholders on this as we move towards a new regime in relation to licensing." Andrew McIntosh Lower House debate, 19/9/07 "We all know [the fee increase] is brought about because the government wants to move to cost recovery, but if that is the case, we must have the most antiquated, out-of-date and expensive licensing regime in this country." "Most particularly, the amendments proposed by this regulatory impact statement could see a sevenfold increase in the cost of many licences under the current statutory regime... it could see 60 percent of dealers go [out of business]." Andrew McIntosh Lower House Members Statements on proposed dealer fees, 26/2/08 McIntosh in Parliament on LSD's management of handgun licences The LSD will not recognise international competitions such as the Olympics, as participation for handgun licence purposes - 21 August 2008
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David Morris State, LP (Mornington) "I well remember back in 1998 when my predecessor as the member for Mornington, Robin Cooper, was the shadow Minister for Police and Emergency Services, and this issue was yet again on foot. The number of abusive phone calls that came into his office and the number of large people with a threatening manner who appeared in the doorway endeavouring to sway debate one way or another was very unfortunate." "The introduction of the national firearms agreement and the two subsequent agreements has been a great success." "The legislation recognises the legitimate right of sporting shooters, whether they be hunters, competitive shooters, professional hunters, people on the land, those who collect weapons or dealers. Anyone who has a need to be involved with firearms is able to work under this arrangement. This has all been achieved while outlawing the sorts of guns that seem to cause so much damage and so much trauma in nations that clearly do not have the sorts of controls we have." David Morris Lower House debate, 20/9/07 | ||
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Janice Munt State, ALP (Mordialloc MLA) "I would like to do something very unusual for me and for this side of the house in actually congratulating John Howard for one of his initiatives when he first became Prime Minister." An honourable member interjected. Ms MUNT — "It certainly is unusual. One of his first acts was to increase the restrictions on the carrying of firearms. I think that had a great effect on cutting down the number of firearms in the community." Janice Munt Lower House debate, 14/2/07 |
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Denis Napthine State, LP (South West Coast, MLA) "There are continual delays, frustrations and real problems with the registration system. Many genuine people who have firearms continually find themselves in the illegal situation of not having their firearms registered simply because the system of firearm registration is grossly understaffed, underresourced and the cause of delay and frustrations. I would urge the government, as well as introducing legislation, to look at the management of firearm registration in Victoria, because the current management of the system is not up to scratch and certainly needs to be improved." Denis Napthine Lower house debate, 19/09/07 Labor threatens duck shooting: Geoff Howard should be replaced - 5 November 2002 | ||
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Edward O'Donohue State, Liberal Party (Eastern Victoria MLC) "However, the Yarra Ranges National Park is also a haven for those who unfortunately do not respect the park and who abuse it: illegal deer shooters using spotlights at night; illegal deer shooters using dogs; and people using the parks to drink, cause damage and generally engage in mischievous behaviour. They disturb the peace and harass those who use the park as is intended, or those who live near the boundary of the park. One constituent who has contacted me tells me that she has been threatened by shooters, has had stray bullets pass near her house, and is concerned about a sense of general lawlessness in the area both within the park and within the towns surrounding the park" Upper House Adjournment, 19/6/07 |
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Sue Pennicuik State, Greens (Southern Metropolitan MLC) "According to Gun Control Australia, the two major weaknesses in our gun laws are the abysmally low level of training required before you are granted a shooters licence, and the organisational structure through which guns can be legally acquired. On its website it states that the number of illegal guns is far too hight and suggests that it is time gun sales took place only though specially adapted police stations; and that guns are far too dangerous an item, too cheap, too technically deceptive, too easily convertible and concealable to be part of the normal economic trading process." Upper House Adjournment, 19/6/07 |
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Donna Petrovich State, ALP (Northern Victoria MLC) "I have been aware for some time of the issue facing volunteer wildlife carers across the state of Victoria and the cost of what is actually a labour of love. Volunteer wildlife carers spend thousands of hours caring for injured wildlife; some have been hit by motor vehicles, injured by shooters, and less frequently thankfully, hurt by deliberate cruelty." Donna Petrovich Upper House Adjournment, 9/8/07 | ||
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Peter Ryan State, NP (Gippsland South MLA), Leader of the National Party Don't panic on guns - 23 October 2002 Nationals support 2005 duck season - 3 January 2005 | ||
 | Robin Scott State, ALP (Preston MLA) "I agree with the member for Yan Yean that on this particular issue there is an element of grandstanding in his position, and that his amendment -- which I understand is designed to create an automatic provision for a renewal of licences -- would breach the national agreement which the state is party to." Robin Scott "...the reasoned amendment which entails the automatic licence provisions and which was moved by The Nationals is not in keeping with the national agreement. It cannot be supported without breaching the national agreement and on that basis I oppose the amendment." Robin Scott | ||
 | George Seitz State, ALP (Keilor MLA) "We have come a long way: politicians do not play with guns anymore." "The bill further tightens up the regulations on carrying guns in different areas -- for example, the magazine must be taken out and there must not be a bullet up the spout of a gun, so that when a person is walking or travelling with a gun, it must be empty. The bill clarifies the situation for hunters who walk around with their weapons, as they do at times." George Seitz | ||
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Bill Sykes State, NP (Benalla MLA) "They [shooters] are not nuts and they are not homicidal maniacs. They are normal people who share a passion for legal firearm use. They enjoy shooting, they may enjoy collecting, they enjoy a sense of belonging and a community spirit that goes with being with a group of friends that share that passion and just want to be out there doing their thing, within the law" "All of this [firearms heritage and sporting history] is at risk if we are to continue down this track of an ideology driven by people who do not understand the issues they are dealing with. The risk we run is removing the firearms from legal firearm owners, users and collectors, while criminals continue to blow each other away left, right and centre, and kill innocent people with little apparent effect of this legislation as it stands at the moment" Bill Sykes Lower house debate, 25/11/03 "The biggest concern that has been raised with me is the issue of missed opportunities. Firearm groups have raised a number of issues with me that they see as still needing to be addressed in the interests of accountability and fairness of the administration of the legislation and ensuring the intent of the firearms control legislation, which is to protect public safety while enabling legal firearm ownership to continue." " ...there is intended to be a shift to full cost recovery, and firearm owners consider that a gross injustice would occur if there were full cost recovery for an inefficient process." Bill Sykes Lower house debate, 19/09/07 " If [the proposed firearm dealer fees are] allowed to proceed, this will result in many smaller dealers shutting up shop, thus making it hard for farmers and legitimate shooters to access ammunition and firearms." "I call on the Minister for Police and Emergency
Services to reject the proposed fee increase and to get on with the job of tackling illegal firearms users rather than continuing to penalise law-abiding firearms users." Apparently now the Victorian authorities do not recognise participation in interstate and overseas
competitions as being appropriate for approval in retaining a licence. This is a ludicrous situation. Victorian pistol shooters who are good enough to compete internationally and interstate are deemed ineligible to be licensed pistol holders in Victoria
because they have been busily participating interstate and overseas rather than in Victoria. That is an issue that needs to be addressed in the overall context of ensuring the responsible use of firearms and in protecting people against stalkers who may use firearms."
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 | Evan Thornley State, ALP (Southern Metropolitan MLC) "I am a supporter of the right of sporting shooters to pursue their sport, to enjoy it and to share it with their families and friends. I have friends who are sporting shooters and I know they enjoy what they do. It is not something I have particularly engaged in, but that is entirely appropriate. I know that at our farm and all the other farms in our district and elsewhere there is a necessary use of firearms, as there is a necessary use of firearms in a range of other professions, such as security. There is no need for anybody to be out vilifying anybody." "I have to say that I think the most irresponsible contribution to this debate today has not come from Mr Finn. I leave that on the record: Mr Finn, unusually in his case, did not make the most irresponsible contribution, as he is often known to do. I think Mr Barber wins that title today. In an effort to solidify his support among a group of people who might understandably be concerned about the dangers of firearms Mr Barber definitely went into vilification mode, in my view, in his discussion about the way he would like to see not just firearms but the owners of firearms regulated and dealt with. I do not see what possible social good comes from such extremism on his part. He does nothing but give legitimacy to the extremists and the vigilantes on the other side of the debate. He inflames passions in an issue wherecommon sense above all else is required." "There is extremism on the other side of the debate from Mr Barber, but thankfully most of it is outside this country ... the opposite of extremism, as I said in my inaugural address, is not a competing extremism; the opposite of extremism is studied and sensible moderation. If Mr Barber is concerned about the tiny proportion of people who may wish to see illegitimate use of firearms or who may wish to prevent the necessary regulation of firearms - if he wants to deal with those people - he does not advance his cause by developing a competing extremism on the other side." Evan Thornley | ||
 | Peter Walsh State, NP (Swan Hill MLA) "A well regulated and controlled duck hunting season is environmentally sustainable and I urge the Premier to stand firm against the RSPCA who wants to ban the sport" Peter Walsh | ||
 | Paul Weller State, NP (Rodney MLA) "The amendment proposes a common-sense solution to a bureaucratic problem by instituting an automatic renewal process, with safeguards, to substantially reduce the amount of work of the LSD. This issue has been raised repeatedly with The Nationals over the years. It was most recently raised by the Combined Firearms Council of Victoria, which represents most major shooting organisations, in a written submission to the member for Benalla." "The member for Benalla has received further advice which suggests that this proposal is not inconsistent with the NFA -- I repeat: 'not inconsistent with the NFA'. The advice states that the NFA requires that licences not be issued for more than 5 years -- for example, not for 10 years -- but it appears not to preclude a more efficient system of renewal." Paul Weller | ||
 | Kim Wells State, LP (Scoreby MLA) "There is no doubt that people who abide by the law when using firearms need to have proper legislation in place to protect them." Kim Wells | Interstate / Federal MPs |
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Kevin Rudd Federal, ALP (Griffith , Qld], Prime Minister "You know something, I grew up on a farm where there were guns around. I like shooting." Interview with Neil Mitchell | ||
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John Howard Former Federal, LP (Bennelong , NSW), former Prime Minister
"I hate guns. I don't think people should have guns unless they're police or in the military or in the security industry. Ordinary citizens should not have weapons. We do not want the American disease imported into Australia." No case for citizens to have access to firearms - 27 November 2002 (as above) - 27 November 2002 "Well, look, I don't like getting into the business of banning things. I'm not a banner." PM John Howard 2/2/01 - on banning skateboards - doorstop interview, Meewen, Victoria Reported SSAA ASJ July 03 "I think there's still more that can be done on that front (restricting all firearms); I do. I'd always seize opportunities to do more .... we just do not need guns,"
Phillip Coorey
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Joe Hockey Federal, LP (North Sydney, NSW) [On guns, and the threat they pose to women in the hands of men] "They create an element of fear in the home ....No one should have to live with that fear."" Sydney Morning Herald September 15, 2007 | ||
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Greg Hunt Federal, LP (Flinders, Vic) "Gun licences .... should ... be cross-referenced with not only criminal records but also with national intelligence data regarding suspected extremist behaviour." Michael Harvey Herald Sun (joint statement with Jason Wood) September 12, 2005 | ||
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Jonathan O'Dea State LP, (Davidson, NSW) Jonathan O'Dea MP, Liberal for Davidson, says the laws governing where a shop selling guns can be located are totally inadequate. This follows the recent approval through Ku-ring-gai Council of a “sporting goods” shop in Babbage Road Roseville Chase and complaints from constituents about the approval of the shop, which will sell guns and ammunition. “The approval process has not adequately taken into account either safety issues in the location or local community views,” Mr O’Dea said. “The proposed gun shop is opposite a community centre, which includes childcare facilities, and is located in a local suburban strip shopping area near bus stops used by many school children. “Today I have written to the General Manager of Ku-ring-gai Council asking why they made the decision under delegated authority without advertising to the surrounding area. “A chemist shop in the same shopping strip has been held up twice in the past few years and a nearby service station was also recently robbed at gunpoint. “I have also written to the NSW Police Minister requesting that the NSW Government review the whole firearms dealer licensing issue and introduce serious safeguards to protect residential areas from gun shops. “I understand the Firearms Registry has raised with the Iemma Government the need to put into law safety matters like the selling of guns and ammunition in suburban residential areas, but the NSW Government has been slow to act. This must be addressed without delay as the approval of this shop to sell guns and ammunition in a local residential area suggests the current laws are seriously lacking. “The old real estate adage: ‘location, location, location’ applies here as gun shops must be placed away from suburban strip shops in residential areas to protect all concerned.
“I respect those who use guns for sport and other legitimate purposes but it is the location of this gun shop that has many in my Electorate of Davidson rightly concerned.
www.jonathanodea.com.au/ August 14,2007 O'Dea's shocking anti-gun survey - 20 August 2007 |
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Jason Wood Federal, LP (La Trobe, Vic) "Gun licences .... should ... be cross-referenced with not only criminal records but also with national intelligence data regarding suspected extremist behaviour." Michael Harvey Herald Sun (joint statement with Greg Hunt) September 12, 2005 |