CORONAVIRUS —
SHOOTING SPORTS AND FIREARMS INDUSTRY
303. Hon AARON STONEHOUSE to the minister representing the
Minister for Police:
I refer the minister to the
directive issued by the WA Commissioner of Police, dated 27 March 2020,
ordering the closure of gun shops in Western Australia by midday, on the same
day.
(1) Why does the
government support the closure of firearm retailers whilst opposing the closure
of other forms of retailers such as supermarkets and electronic goods stores?
(2) Is the
minister aware that the firearms community in Western Australia received only
70 minutes' notice of these directions and that the directions themselves
contained a typographical error?
(3) If yes to
(2), how is this notice consistent with best practice in information delivery
during a crisis such as the coronavirus pandemic?
(4) What
consideration, if any, has the government given to the storage and security of
firearms and ammunition that may have been in transit to a gun shop at the time
these directions came into effect?
Hon
STEPHEN DAWSON replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question. The following answer has been provided to me by
the Minister for Police.
(1)–(4) On
27 March 2020, the Premier outlined that these measures were taken in the
interests of community safety. On 28 March 2020, the State Emergency
Coordinator issued a subsequent direction that provided more clarity around the
ability to open by appointment for certain persons, including primary producers
and vermin eradication professionals. On 31 March 2020, the Western Australia
Police Force provided further information to affected businesses to assist them
in understanding their obligations. In that advice, the Western Australia
Police Force advised that the transportation of firearms and ammunition by an
approved commercial carrier may continue. The state government is providing
detailed information to the public via its own website, and a COVID-19 call
centre is in the process of being established to assist the community in
meeting its obligations under the current state of emergency.