Ministerial Statement

FIREARM OFFENCES

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Members would be aware that there has been considerable concern in the community following a series of incidents involving firearms since New Year's Eve. We have seen that too regularly firearms have been used recklessly by those involved in serious and organised crime and with little or no regard for public safety.

This senseless and highly dangerous behaviour is a gross attack on public order. The state government sees this type of activity as abhorrent. The government shares the concerns that the community has about these recent incidents. I would like to outline what the government is doing to combat crimes involving firearms with a view to enhancing public safety and sending a message that gun crime will not be tolerated in South Australia.

Working with SAPOL, we conducted a general firearms amnesty between August and October last year, which saw more than 2,700 illegal and unwanted firearms surrendered to police. This was the most successful firearms amnesty ever held in South Australia. Every firearm out of circulation means our community is safer.

This parliament has also passed a series of laws aimed directly at combating serious firearm violence. In September last year, the Statutes Amendment (Serious Firearms Offences) Act was passed, which contained a series of interlocking measures to send serious firearm offenders directly to gaol. The act strengthened penalties to up to eight years' imprisonment for discharging firearms to threaten either persons or property. This measure closed the gap on drive-by shootings, meaning it cannot be an excuse from the operation of the law if the property was empty at the time of the shooting.

The act also created a new offence for shooting at a police officer, carrying a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment. These new offences came into operation in October last year. I can advise the house today that from 4 March this year, the remainder of the act will become operational. This will mean that we will have a new category of offender, called 'a serious firearm offender', who will have a presumption against a suspended sentence and a presumption against bail.

Also from 4 March, any person sentenced for an offence, firearms related or not, if released back into the community, will be subjected to the condition that they not possess a firearm or ammunition, or that when reasonably requested they submit to a gunshot residue test. These conditions will also apply to every form of conditional release, that is, probation, parole, bail, a release on licence or release on a suspended sentence.

I can also inform the house today that to support the government's broad-ranging response to firearm-related crime, the Deputy Premier, the Minister for Police and I have announced a new reward scheme that calls on the community to assist us in getting even more illegal firearms off the streets. Rewards of up to $10,000 will be available for providing information leading to the seizure of illegal firearms or arrests for serious firearm offences. It is important to note that these initiatives will not affect law-abiding owners of registered guns. It is aimed directly at those who think that possessing illegal firearms is acceptable in our society.

Members of the public wanting to provide information can call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. I encourage members of the public to take advantage of this illegal firearms reward scheme and I understand that they can do so anonymously. The recent incidents involving firearms in this state are concerning, and the state government and SAPOL are doing everything within their power to make our streets safer. Today we are asking the community to help us play a part in this battle.