Firearms reforms may not be in place until September, police minister reveals

Key elements of NSW’s firearms reform rushed through parliament on Christmas Eve may not be in place until September, the police minister has revealed.

The government was also forced to reiterate it wound not be revisiting a controversial hunting bill put forward by the Shooters Fishers and Farmers after Yasmin Catley told a budget estimates hearing she was unable to answer whether the government would support the bill, which would create a $7.9 million hunting authority.

NSW Parliament was recalled to pass urgent legislation cracking down on gun ownership in the days before Christmas, including reclassifying the types of guns that can be owned and reducing the term of firearms licences from five to two years. However, all elements may not be in place until the regulation is due to be rewritten in September, Catley said.

New limits on the number of firearms an individual can own – four, or 10 for farmers and sporting shooters – are already in place, Catley said, but a buyback scheme jointly funded by the federal government to reclaim guns already in the community is yet to be rolled out.

Farmers or sporting shooters can apply for permission from the police commissioner to hold more than 10 guns under special circumstances, she added.

Liberal MP Susan Carter asked the minister why parliament sat until 3am on Christmas Eve to pass the legislation, given the long timeframe the government has given to put the measures in place.

“We did have a very significant event take place and I think that the community expect their government take action,” Catley said.

The minister was also questioned on the government’s position on the hunting bill put forward by the Shooters Fishers and Farmers party, which would give hunters access to more public land for shooting invasive animals and would establish a new Conservation Hunting Authority.

The Herald previously reported the government initially supported the bill, and allocated $7.9 million in the previous budget for the establishment of the hunting authority. The government then abandoned support of the bill.

The debate about access to firearms has been reignited after Opposition Leader Kellie Sloane this week argued the recently passed crackdown, which the Liberals supported, may need to be reviewed after a spike in gun licence applications.

When asked in budget estimates by Liberal MP Damien Tudehope what the government’s position was on the hunting bill, Catley said it had not come before her house, the Legislative Assembly. When pressed if she knew what the position was, the minister did not answer, instead insisting Tudehope ask Labor upper house leader Penny Sharpe.

A government spokesperson later clarified that, while the Shooters party MPs have been “honest brokers” in discussions about the bill, the government was not in a position to support it in its current form. Premier Chris Minns in December said the government would need to find a new use for the $7.9 million set aside for the hunting authority.

The police minister also faced questions about the government’s response to the protest at Town Hall earlier this month against the visit of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, which descended into chaos when police aggressively dispersed and arrested protesters attempting to march in defiance of restrictions.

When asked if Muslims who were bowed in prayer while manhandled by police officers deserved an apology, Catley said she was sorry that they thought they were going to a peaceful protest and instead got caught up in a “riot”.

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