Page 465 - Week 02 - Thursday, 22 February 1990
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More importantly, the absence of a registration requirement would weaken the enforcement of one of the fundamental aspects of the Bill that I have previously mentioned, namely, that a person must be able to show good reason for requiring a weapon. The registration requirement will ensure that a person only ever has in his or her possession a weapon of a kind which is required for the purpose for which his or her licence was granted.
The issue of automatic and semiautomatic or self-loading weapons has received a great deal of publicity over time. The Bill continues to prohibit all fully automatic weapons and introduces a series of restrictions in respect of semiautomatic weapons. Non-military style semiautomatic weapons may be possessed and used for participation in sporting shooting competitions and also for recreational shooting and hunting in the ACT where the licensee is a member of an approved club and in another State or Territory where the owner is licensed in that State or Territory.
However, military style semiautomatic weapons may only be used for sporting shooting competition purposes. In taking this position on semiautomatic weapons, the Alliance Government has had regard to the fact that many such weapons are used in high level international sporting competitions. If these weapons are kept and used for competition purposes only, together with other controls, ownership should be permitted.
It may be argued that there is a strong case for the prohibition of semiautomatics. However, the many responsible owners of semiautomatics who will comply with the new legislation should not be deprived of the entitlements which flow from a preparedness to comply. Under any law, the irresponsible person will be the problem and will not be unduly affected by a prohibition. Under the Bill such persons will have difficulty in obtaining a licence and will therefore find it more difficult to acquire a weapon.
Under the provisions of the Bill, a permit is required for the acquisition of each weapon. In the case of a person acquiring his or her first weapon, there will be a 28-day delay between an application and the granting of a permit. This will ensure that a first weapon owner is not able to quickly obtain a weapon and has ample time to reconsider his or her need for it. So as to minimise the use of unregistered weapons or the use of weapons by unlicensed persons, the Bill prohibits the sale to a person of ammunition other than ammunition capable of being used in a weapon registered or endorsed on that person's licence.
The Bill, Mr Speaker, categorises weapons as dangerous, restricted or prohibited. Under the provisions of the Bill, licences may be obtained for dangerous and restricted weapons only. However, there are transitional provisions to cater for persons who, at the time of commencement of
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