Warning to Labor on change to gun law

THE new minister charged with implementing the Hodgman Government’s planned gun law reforms has warned Labor leader Bill Shorten not to play party politics over the issue.

If elected next year, Mr Shorten has promised to intervene if any states breach the National Firearms Agreement — created after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre in which 35 people died.

Mr Shorten has written to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull urging the Government to immediately review Tasmania’s proposal over concerns it breaches the agreement.

Police Minister Michael Ferguson said he was not sure Mr Shorten “knows what he’s talking about”.

Mr Ferguson said the changes would not breach the National Firearms Agreement.

“It doesn’t look good when party leaders try to play this kind of fairly naked party politics on something that’s an important public issue, with a lot of people wanting to make sure that the Government is going to get this right,” he said.

“We ought not to be seeing Bill Shorten polarising public opinion on this.”

The Tasmanian Government plans to give farmers greater access to Category C firearms, such as self-loading rifles and pump-action shotguns, and to double some licence durations from five to 10 years.

The policy was revealed in the media the day before the state election.

Mr Ferguson has backed a move by independent Legislative Councillor Ivan Dean for an Upper House inquiry into the proposed changes.

Deputy Labor leader Michelle O’Byrne said it was farcical that an Upper House inquiry was now required.

She said no state should do anything to undermine the National Firearms Agreement.

“We don’t need an Upper House inquiry, the only reason we have to have one is that this Government attempted to mislead the Tasmanian people,” Ms O’Byrne said.

“I don’t think that anyone can suggest maintaining secure gun law reforms in Australia is playing politics.

“The Government’s changes are in fact about self-loading, semi-automatic weapons. I don’t think the Tasmanian public are fine with that, I don’t think the Australian public are fine with that, and I’m pretty sure we’ll find that the national legislation is not fine with that.”