After consultation with licence holders, industry stakeholders and the broader public, the Firearms Bill 2024 entered Parliament on 21st February.
“New laws will replace the current five-decades-old Act and see my Government unapologetically impose the strictest regulations of firearms anywhere in Australia.”
Premier Roger Cook
Injury Matters supports the opportunity that the proposed Bill has to align legislation to the contemporary challenges facing WA and to improve community safety.
Injuries resulting from illegal firearm use can be detrimental to the health of a community and the injured individual. There is no denying that firearm-related harm is a growing global concern, and it is time for preventative action.
Injury Matters supports several changes proposed in the new Bill, including the tightening of licensing requirements, introduction of theoretical and practical training requirements, heightened disqualification orders and the introduction of limits on the number of firearms that an individual can own.
The prevalence of licenced firearms is a growing concern in WA. Despite the number of WA firearm licensees remaining stable, there has been a 60% increase in the prevalence of licenced firearms in WA.
“Farmers who use firearms to do their job, club members who use them to participate in their sport and recreational hunters who help landowners to control vermin are all accommodated for in the new legislation.” Premier Roger Cook.
As part of the reform, a voluntary firearm buyback is available to all individual firearms licence holders across WA. Individuals can surrender their licensed firearms to any WA Police station and receive a payment in line with a predetermined baseline valuation.
“Given the historical success of buyback schemes, Injury Matters strongly supports the voluntary firearm buyback and entrusts that the WA community will actively participate.”
“Firearms ownership is a privilege and Injury Matters is pleased to see public safety promoted as a priority.”
Rachel Meade, Injury Matters’ General Manager of Injury Prevention