POLICE —
FIREARMS LICENSING — REVOCATION
982. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer the minister to the seizure
of a number of what the Western Australia Police Force refer to as ''very
powerful firearms'' in recent weeks.
(1) When WA
police on or about 4 October 2018 gave to Richard Hills a letter dated that
same day revoking his licence for a rifle with the serial number US375741, was
Mr Hills in actual physical possession of the rifle?
(2) If no to (1),
was the rifle in question in the possession of the Lone Ranges Shooting
Complex, a licensed firearms dealer?
(3) If yes to (2), was there any
reason to consider that possession to be unlawful?
(4) Did WA police seize the rifle
from the dealer?
(5) If yes to
(4), does the minister consider the seizure of the rifle from the dealer to be
lawful; and, if so, on what grounds?
(6) Was the revocation notice served
on Mr Hills before the rifle was seized by WA police?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following information has been provided to me
by the Minister for Police.
The
answer to parts (1), (2), (4) and (6) is that it is not possible to provide a response
to this question within the required time period. If the honourable
member puts the question on notice, I will be able to provide further
information.
The answer to parts (3) and (5) is
that I am unable to provide an answer to these questions under standing order 105,
as the honourable member is seeking an opinion and legal interpretation or
opinion.