Gun laws held up by committee

PROPOSED laws aimed at stopping gun-toting bikies at crime hot spots such as the Gold Coast have been stalled by a parliamentary committee.

The LNP proposed a firearms offences bill that would include jail terms of between four and 15 years for breaching a firearms prohibition order. It was aimed at stopping gang members and violent criminals from using or possessing guns and ammunition.

The bill’s rejection by the parliamentary legal affairs and community safety committee occurs against the backdrop of Gold Coast police investigating the double murder of a Comanchero bikie and his business partner at Martin Sheils Park, Burleigh Heads, on October 18.

The Opposition is not giving up on introducing the new laws, but the most likely scenario will be the gun legislation package being debated in State Parliament in the New Year.

The proposed laws followed NSW’s firearms prohibition orders (FPO) framework, which saw shootings drop by 36 per cent across three years and offences related to discharging of a firearm decrease by 20 per cent.

Opposition police spokesman Trevor Watts said Queensland was “falling behind” in laws on firearms to protect the community.

The Shooters Union supported the intent of the laws, but complained about the lack of consultation and concluded “it misses the mark in certain areas and could well have been a vastly better bill”.

The Queensland Law Society raised concerns about the “breadth of powers conferred on the (Police) Commissioner to impose FPOs” and suggested amendments in which a judicial officer made such rulings.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington called on Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to pass the tough gun laws before Christmas.