Farmer Advisory Board set up to consult on new State firearms laws

The State Government has unveiled a Primary Producers Firearms Advisory Board to provide advice and feedback from industry during the biggest overhaul of firearms laws in WA history.

The advisory board, which met for the first time last week, is made up of representatives from across the agricultural sector.

It includes WAFarmers chief executive Trevor Whittington, who will also represent Wines of WA as chairman of the organisation, Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA policy director Sheldon Mumby, Vegetables WA chief executive Stephen Brown, and Kimberley Pilbara Cattlemen’s Association chief executive Mick Sheehy.

The board will be chaired by WA Police Minister Paul Papalia and will meet on a monthly basis to discuss all proposed changes related to primary producers as a part of the re-write of WA’s five-decade-old Firearms Act.

Mr Papalia said WA primary producers required firearms as a part of their day-to-day jobs and he wanted to ensure the new Act provided procedural and operational improvements for farmers, growers and pastoralists.

“The Primary Producers Firearms Advisory Board will become the principal authority to speak on behalf of WA farmers, growers and pastoralists and represent their best interests with a seat at the table during the re-writing of the act,” Mr Papalia said.

“The overhaul of WA’s firearms laws will ensure there is an adequate balance between legitimate and responsible gun ownership and community safety.”

Police figures reveal Western Australians now own more than 349,000 guns — a 60 per cent jump in the number of licensed guns compared to 13 years ago.

Mr Papalia said the new Firearms Act would modernise the current firearms licensing regime with a strong focus on community safety.

It was revealed that the Board held its first meeting on Wednesday, April 12, to discuss and formally seek agreement of the representatives to establish the Advisory Board.

WAFarmers chief executive Trevor Whittington said it was important for government to view farmers in a separate category to other firearms users, because they need them as part of their everyday businesses in controlling feral pests and to destroy sick or injured animals.

“We’ll also be discussing the potential of a primary producers firearms licence,” Mr Whittington said.

A State Government spokesperson said the licence would be specific to the unique requirements of primary producers, but how it could potentially look will be discussed by the advisory board.

Mr Whittington said in next meeting they will be briefed on what the first draft of the new firearms laws will look like and they will be able to then advise the government before it makes a final decision, which is expected by the end of the year.

The State Government spokesperson said the consultation on firearms is and will remain an ongoing process.

“The WA Government is progressing with the development of new Firearms Act, which we expect to be introduced into Parliament later this year,” the spokesperson said.

Shadow agriculture minister Colin de Grussa said it was good that the government was engaging with the sector but he hoped it was “genuine”.

He said it appeared that the government had been working on reforms to the Firearms Act for sometime and he hoped the consultation was “more than a box ticking exercise”.

“The minister has come out shooting from the hip and hasn’t properly consulted with all groups involved,” Mr de Grussa said.

“The government will introduce the legislation later this year so that doesn’t leave a lot of time for consultation.

“I hope they haven’t determined the outcome before they started the consultation.”

He said the Law Reform Commission of WA produced the Review of the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) in October 2016 and it would be a good place to start for the government in drafting new legislation.

“We don’t need to reinvent the wheel,” Mr de Grussa said.

“It’s a comprehensive review and it’s a good place to start.

“Instead of cherry picking the recommendations they should be adopted.”