Firearm laws hearing row

FARMERS have accused Tasmanian politicians of using the state’s firearm laws as a political football.

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association told an inquiry into the state’s firearms policies the agriculture sector needed easier access to self-loading rifles and shotguns to help combat a rise in native and invasive species. But Medics for Gun Control said gun laws should be strengthened.

FARMERS have accused Tasmanian politicians of using the state’s firearm laws as a political football.

The Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association yesterday told a Lower House committee examining the state’s firearms policies that the state’s agriculture sector was battling an increase in native and invasive species that could be partially combated by easier access to Category C guns, such as self-loading shotguns and rifles.

But change had been hampered by emotive reporting around firearm laws, the body said. Chief executive Peter Skillern said he had been the victim of a violent crime so understood hesitance about changes to firearms policy, but added: “I’m also a farmer.

“I also understand firearms are a tool of the trade. The TFGA is not suggesting in any sense there should be any deviation from the National Firearms Agreement … however... there is a clear need for there to be adjustments to the legislation to make it not only contemporary but clean up those areas that were put in in 1996.”

But Medics for Gun Control spokesman Phill Pullinger said relaxing gun laws would result in more cases of domestic violence and increase the rate of suicide. He said gun laws should in fact be strengthened.

“We’ve been fortunate in the improvement to safety through the National Firearms Agreement but there is still a very real risk,” he said.

The House of Assembly firearms committee was instructed to examine the state’s firearm laws after the Liberals released proposed policy changes to interest groups ahead of the election.

TFGA policing and firearms committee chairman Don Jones disputed the Liberals had been secretive about the sinces-crapped proposal and claimed he had handed Labor the policy three weeks before the elec- tion. This was later denied by the Opposition.

“I’m surprised you weren’t in possession of it. There was no secrecy,” Mr Jones said to Greens MHA and committee member Rosalie Woodruff. “It became a political football to the convenience of politicians who wanted to get elected.”

Greens leader Cassy O’Connor said Mr Jones’s testimony was telling.