Firearms regulation
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:19): My question is for the Premier. In 2017 an Australian man was granted a licence to own an unlimited number of guns in New Zealand. Two years later, he used six guns to murder 51 Muslim worshippers in Christchurch. In 2023 a terrorist was granted a licence to own an unlimited number of guns. Two years later, he and his son used six guns to murder 15 mostly Jewish Australians in Bondi. Premier, despite this, your government has rejected recommendation 1 of the Lay firearms review to cap the number of guns that a person can own. Is the Premier prioritising the high number of licensed gun owners in her own electorate above keeping Victorians safe from mass shootings?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:20): In answering the member for Richmond’s question, can I reject in the strongest possible terms the characterisation at the end of her question for the reasons that we are, in terms of the response we have made to the Lay report, currently working on strengthening Victoria’s firearm laws. Prior to the announcement I made last Monday afternoon, following cabinet’s consideration of the Lay report, Victoria already had the strongest firearm laws in the nation. What occurred at Bondi in December of last year was a shocking antisemitic attack on a Jewish community celebrating a festival that is about light and hope. It was a shocking, disgraceful terrorist attack that is being dealt with by investigative agencies. As a result of asking Ken Lay, a former chief commissioner, to consider Victoria’s firearms laws, we have resolved as a government that, yes, we do need to strengthen those laws further to stop the wrong people getting their hands on even one firearm. That is the focus of the laws that we are changing. We need to focus on those criminals getting their hands on just one gun, which is why we are making gun laws in this state stronger, with tougher penalties, stricter licensing requirements and stronger police powers. I am of the view that the overwhelming majority of firearm owners do the right thing. They are careful with their handling of their firearms. They take their responsibilities very, very seriously. Where our effort and focus need to be is on the criminals getting their hands on one firearm and weeding out those who want to do the wrong thing and cause harm in our community.
Gabrielle DE VIETRI (Richmond) (14:22): I thank the Premier for her answer. The fact of the matter is the more guns that are in circulation the more likely they are to end up in the wrong hands. In focusing on criminals or the wrong people as the sole source of excessive gun ownership and mass shootings, these words remind me of the argument that is used by the US National Rifle Association to justify unlimited gun ownership. They literally say we should focus on gun criminals and not place an undue burden on law-abiding citizens. That is reminiscent of what the Premier just said. Why is the Premier taking talking points from the US gun lobby, rather than accepting overwhelming expert evidence and the will of the majority of Victorians to cap gun ownership and keep Victorians safe?
Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:23): This is an incredibly serious matter, which is why, in carefully considering the report from Ken Lay, we are taking Victoria’s already strong firearm laws and making them even stronger. I am not convinced that a cap is necessary, because, as I said before, the vast majority of gun owners do not do the wrong thing. They take their responsibilities very, very seriously. The characterisation of those firearm owners by the member for Richmond is a great discredit to her, because it is clear that she has not taken the time to talk to firearm owners – to talk to farmers, to hunters and to those who need firearms to go about their work. I have. They take their responsibilities seriously, and we as a government are focused on weeding out the criminals and stopping them from getting their hands on just one gun.