Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee [Part 2], , 1:42:27 to 1:49:07
Discussion regarding the establishment of the National Firearms Safety Council, including application numbers, membership representation, and operational funding.
Topics: Firearms, Public safety
Speakers: Hon Bridget McKenzie, Stephanie Foster, Speaker 18, Unknown Speaker
are you able to answer questions on the National Firearm Safety Council?
>> Again, at a very superficial level.
>> All right. Well, I I will ask my questions and and um if you can answer them, great. If you can't, um someone at home can and uh looking forward to getting those quanss. Uh what arrangements have been made to allow the import of parts to repair firearms under warranty firearms that are still legal to own and use in jurisdictions, but are now prohibited for import?
Senator, I'm afraid it's a level of detail I don't have. I thought um you wanted to ask about the safety council.
>> Yes. I've got a couple more and then I can get to the safety council. >> Sure. Um local firearm businesses claim they've lost hundreds of thousands of dollars in trade with business owners of arms and ammo stating [music] they and I quote had lost more than $800,000 in firearm trade alone. And when I go out to um clubs and the like and to businesses um many particularly in New South Wales haven't sold a firearm uh since last December. Has ABF assessed the financial impact of import restrictions on Australian firearm dealers and manufacturers who are unable to obtain replacement parts to meet their warranty obligations? and what exemptions or alternative arrangements are available to prevent lawful businesses and firearm owners being financially damaged?
>> Senator, to your question, the first part in terms of whether we've um undertaken any analysis in terms of the impact to industry, the answer is no. Um in terms from a ABF perspective, we do uh work in collaboration with the departments and engaging with industry to provide as much information as possible and engaging with importers to understand where there may be clarity that's required around the policies and procedures and we've continued to do that through uh various working groups and bringing industry and partners together.
>> Thank you, Mr. Smith. um expression of interest for the membership of the National Firearms Safety Council closed on the 26th of August 2026, two months ago. How many applications were received? How many appointments have been made? And when will the council
So, Senator, um, these are very rough figures based on
what I can remember from a briefing. >> Take them as such.
>> Clarify my memory. It was around about 30 31 applications received. um the department um pull together a team to assess those applications. They are in the final stages of going through um that they will then provide we will then provide advice um to government on the makeup of the council. You've asked us previously about um ensuring that their different groups are represented and I can assure you that there were applications from the various um interested parties.
>> Excellent. And um the advice you'll provide to the minister will um provide the breadth of views uh to be represented on the national
>> sector. Correct. So the the work I've seen actually categorize categorizes applicants by the the sector or the element that they represent.
>> Yeah. So dealers, recreational, etc. Okay. Aunties. Um Okay. So, uh no decisions been made on when the council will hold its first meeting because we haven't the minister hasn't decided what constitutes
>> and and that's because we haven't yet given the min
>> given the brief. Got it. Um, is that imminent or
>> I would expect it won't be very much longer.
>> Okay. So, before Christmas.
>> I would hope so.
so even the 31 and maybe on notice. Um, can I understand how many applicants represented farmers, primary producers, sporting shooters, firearm dealers. Um the department has guaranteed as much as the minister will allow they'll have direct representation that um will be part of the broad group that's put up to the minister. Um what confidence will stakeholders have that the council will be genuinely independent of government?
So, Senator, I think the process that's been followed to seek expressions of interest, as you know, there's a a terms of reference that was made public. Um uh so clearly there's been a genuine effort to um source people with different interests. Um, and I think the public, the sector can have confidence in the makeup of the council once that's determined and announced.
And so will um will there be a level of public accountability around their discussions or their debates or um decisions or advice that the council will provide to government?
>> I'm afraid you're taking me outside my
>> That's okay. Um, what total Commonwealth funding has been allocated to establish and operate the National Firearms Safety Council?
>> We'll take that on notice, Senator.
>> Okay. And I want to understand because um, many of these groups that I represent come from the far corners of our um, great country and I'd hate to see them unable to participate because travel wouldn't be renumerated, etc. So,
one thing I do remember from um looking at the list, Senator, is that there was a good spread of um applications from
different states. Great. Um now, ABF, um you've had your illicit firearm week of action. Yay. Let every week be going after the bad guys, not the good guys when it comes to firearm ownership. Um, so in your media release of the 26th of October, ABF revealed that more than 3,400 undeclared firearms and firearm parts were detected in 2025, an increase of more than 30% on the previous year. How many of these detections resulted in criminal charges or prosecutions?