Labors Gun Buyback Scheme Misfires
LABOR MUST ADDRESS SERIOUS FLAWS BEFORE GUN BUYBACK BEGINS
Member for Port Macquarie, Robert Dwyer says Labor must immediately answer serious questions about its firearms buyback before the scheme begins on 2 November.
“The Minns Labor Government must urgently address legitimate concerns about its firearms buyback before thousands of law abiding firearm owners across NSW are required to surrender firearms under the new scheme.
“Following the Bondi terrorist attack, the NSW Liberals supported reforms designed to strengthen community safety. We also made clear that Labor needed to consult properly with affected communities and ensure rushed laws did not create serious unintended consequences. Those concerns remain unresolved,” Mr Dwyer said.
The buyback is expected to affect up to 274,000 registered firearms and around 50,000 NSW licence holders, making it one of the largest firearms buybacks in Australian history. Phase One compensation will provide fixed payments of between $450 and $1,000 for most firearms, while a second phase will deal with eligible higher-value firearms, with compensation capped at $10,000.
“Law abiding firearm owners should not be treated as though they are the problem. Farmers, sporting shooters, collectors and licensed firearm owners across the Port Macquarie electorate have followed the rules and complied with the law.”
“If the Government is going to force people to surrender legally acquired property, the least it can do is be transparent about how compensation has been calculated and ensure people are not left financially disadvantaged.”
The Government has announced that NSW and the Commonwealth will share the acquisition costs, while the Commonwealth will fund the destruction of surrendered firearms. However, the Government has not provided the public with a clear picture of the total anticipated cost of the scheme or the precise NSW Budget allocation supporting the State's contribution.
The Government has also announced an initial support package for firearms businesses, including grants of up to $25,000 and licence fee relief, but further details remain to be released.
“Regional NSW cannot be an afterthought in this process. In the Port Macquarie electorate, firearms are lawfully used by farmers, primary producers, sporting shooters and collectors, and the Government needs to understand the real-world consequences of these changes.”
“We need answers before the buyback starts not after people have surrendered their property and discovered that the compensation arrangements don't properly reflect their circumstances,” Mr Dwyer said.
The NSW Liberals have consistently supported practical reforms that improve public safety. But the Government must ensure those reforms are properly designed, properly funded and capable of being implemented without imposing unnecessary financial harm on people who have done nothing wrong.
There are also legitimate questions about whether NSW should proceed ahead of a genuinely national agreement.
While the Commonwealth has promoted the initiative as a national buyback, NSW is currently the only state to commit to implementing the scheme, with other jurisdictions taking different positions.
Mr Dwyer said, “Public safety must be the objective, but good intentions are not enough. The Government has a responsibility to make sure these laws work, that the buyback is properly funded and that NSW Police have the resources to administer it safely.”
“The focus should be on terrorists, organised criminal networks and illegal firearms. We should not lose sight of those genuine threats while imposing significant costs and restrictions on people who have consistently complied with the law.”
“The NSW Liberals will continue to support sensible measures that genuinely improve community safety, while holding the Minns Labor Government accountable for the consequences of its decisions,” Mr Dwyer.
Media Contact: Terry Sara 6584 0977
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