Hansard debates

Mrs McARTHUR (Western Victoria) (18:00): My adjournment matter is for the Minister for Police and Emergency Services. On 31 March the Andrews government announced that in response to the coronavirus pandemic they would ban the sale of firearms and ammunition. The reason they gave law-abiding firearm owners was to prevent potential stockpiling. The ban was not only unjustified and authoritarian; it was completely illogical. In the announcement the minister made a series of ludicrous claims. First she insulted law-abiding firearm owners by suggesting that they were at risk of succumbing to ‘pressures around family violence’. There is no evidence to suggest that legal firearm owners in Victoria have a higher propensity to commit acts of domestic violence. Ms Neville is still yet to apologise to firearm owners for insinuating that they are domestic abusers-in-waiting.

Then she said that the decision to ban the sale of firearms and ammunition was made following deliberations by the national cabinet. This is despite only three states in Australia implementing the ban, all three of which have Labor governments—surprise. There appears no evidence to suggest that a ban on the sale of firearms and ammunition was discussed at the national cabinet. If the minister is using the public’s faith and trust in the national cabinet to push Labor’s own political agenda, then that is demonstrative of severe misconduct. If it was discussed at the national cabinet, the minister ought to inform law-abiding firearm owners of the substance of the discussion, how the decision was arrived at and why it differs between states.

Finally, the government announced that there has been an increase in firearm permits to acquire applications and additional ammunition in recent times, increasing the risk that firearms and ammunition may not be stored safely. The sale of firearms in Victoria is heavily regulated, with all permits to acquire requiring approval from the licensing and regulation division of Victoria Police. There is no evidence to suggest that the increase in permits to acquire was not within the ordinary range for March each year, which is the lead-up to hunting season.

The action I seek is that the minister apologise to law-abiding shooters for insinuating that they are domestic abusers-in-waiting and then release the information surrounding the apparent discussion at the national cabinet about a firearm ban as well as the data to prove her other dubious claims.

The PRESIDENT: Sorry, Mrs McArthur. Was there an extra action on top of the apology?

Mrs McARTHUR: To provide the information that she was basing it all on.

The PRESIDENT: An apology is not an action, but the second one is fine.