Ministerial Statement

Firearms Reform

The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light—Minister for Disabilities, Minister for Police, Minister for Correctional Services, Minister for Emergency Services, Minister for Road Safety) (14:08): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. A. PICCOLO: As members may be aware, the current Firearms Act is complex and, in parts, very ambiguous, with provisions difficult to interpret, follow and administer. For close to 10 years, the government has been in the process of developing a new bill to address these issues. Between November 2008 and May 2012, the Firearms Legislative Advisory Group (FLAG), involving the firearms community and South Australia Police, produced a large number of recommendations on how to improve our firearms legislation. I undertook to discuss these recommendations, as well as new recommendations from SAPOL and other stakeholders, through seven ministerial roundtable meetings held since September last year.

Various stakeholders, including firearm industry peak bodies, sporting shooters and collectors, as well as victims of firearm crime, the Commissioner for Victims' Rights and judicial officers were invited to take part in the roundtable meetings. These discussions were open, robust and with varying points of view put forward and debated. Based on the outcome of the roundtable meetings a draft bill was prepared for comment and distributed to all stakeholders for further comment. From this I received 27 submissions into the draft which resulted in just over 30 changes and which are reflected in the bill to be introduced tomorrow.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank the stakeholders who have been involved in the development of the new bill as they have played a pivotal role in ensuring that the bill reflects the need to achieve a clear and sustainable balance between firearm control that maximises public safety and encourages the responsible possession of the use of firearms for legitimate reasons. In particular, I would like to especially thank Assistant Commissioner Phil Newitt and Senior Sergeant Brendan Beh, as well as the whole Firearms Branch of SAPOL who have provided my office with invaluable advice and assistance over the past 12 months.

To mark the introduction of the Firearms Bill 2015, earlier today I announced the gun amnesty to commence on 1 December until 30 June 2016. During the amnesty period South Australia Police will work with industry for the first time to identify those firearm dealers able to accept surrendered firearms. This was a recommendation brought forward from one of the stakeholders during my roundtable process. Anyone who legally possesses a firearm, ammunition, a firearm part, silencer or restricted mechanism can surrender it without any action being taken against them in respect of their unlawful possession at that time.

Passage of the bill is a first stage of this important reform to make our community safer. To ensure that the regulations that support the act are fair, reasonable and practical I can advise the house that the former premier and member for Frome (Hon. Rob Kerin) has agreed to chair a committee, comprising South Australia Police and other stakeholders who will prepare draft regulations for my consideration.

I look forward to working with all members of this parliament on the swift passage of this new bill.