The Government will today make a submission to the Legislative Council Inquiry into Firearms Law Reform.
Our submission will confirm that the Government will not progress the previously announced firearms law proposals and will review firearms policy after consideration of recommendations from the Committee.
We have consistently said that we will not do anything to undermine the National Firearms Agreement. Our firearms laws are among the toughest in the world and that is how they should remain.
We understand that there are deeply held concerns about public safety, and in an area as important to Tasmanians as gun laws, public confidence in our laws is essential.
We supported the establishment of the Legislative Council Inquiry as an appropriate forum to explore all the issues and views related to firearms policy.
There have been more than a dozen occasions since 1996 where firearms laws have been updated and we will be informed by the Committee’s recommendations as to what further practical improvements could be made.
There may be practical improvements to be made to Firearms Laws recommended by the Committee Inquiry. Should this be the case we will consider the recommendations. The Government’s overriding principle in relation to any proposed changes continues to be that we will not do anything to undermine the National Firearms Agreement.
Our full submission will be available once published by the Committee.