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Parliamentary Questions


Question Without Notice No. 1043 asked in the Legislative Council on 8 October 2020 by Hon Rick Mazza

Parliament: 40 Session: 1

NATIONAL FIREARMS AMNESTY

1043. Hon RICK MAZZA to the minister representing the Minister for Police:

I refer to a November 2019 announcement by the federal Assistant Minister for Customs, Community Safety and Multicultural Affairs, Jason Wood, MP. Mr Wood stated that a deal between state and territory police ministers had been reached to implement a permanent national firearms amnesty to commence in the second half of 2020.

(1) Can the minister advise whether Western Australia has been approached in regard to a national firearms amnesty?

(2) If yes to (1), can the minister advise whether Western Australia has agreed to implement a permanent national firearms amnesty; and, if so, when will it commence?

(3) If yes to (2), can the minister advise whether it is intended that firearm dealers will be the place of surrender for illegal or unlicensed firearms?

(4) If yes to (3), can the minister advise —

(a) is it intended to permit firearm dealers to register anonymously surrendered firearms;

(b) is it intended to permit firearm dealers to possess anonymously surrendered firearms;

(c) is it intended to permit firearm dealers to transport anonymously surrendered firearms to police stations for destruction; and

(d) how firearm dealers will be able to recoup their costs in collecting, registering, transporting and submitting firearms for destruction?

Hon STEPHEN DAWSON replied:

I thank the honourable member for some notice of this question. The following answer has been provided to me by the Minister for Police. The Western Australia Police Force advises the following.

(1)–(4) An informal firearms amnesty has operated in Western Australia for some time. Reforms to the Firearms Act 1973 are being progressed to create a permanent general amnesty in this state. At its November 2019 meeting, the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management agreed to create a permanent general amnesty. However, the national firearms and weapons policy working group on behalf of the Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management has yet to finalise the details and timing of the amnesty. It is usual practice under firearms amnesties for firearms to be surrendered at police stations.