Page 1512 - Week 06 - Tuesday, 11 August 1992

Legislative Assembly Question No. 179

Gun Licences

Mr Humphries - asked the Attorney General

(1) Is the Attorney-General aware that people renewing gun licences are finding

that it is taking five or more weeks for the police to process their applications.

(2) How many people renewing gun licences, and who applied for renewal while

their existing licences were still current, are in breach of the new gun laws

because of the excessive time it is taking to process applications.

(3) What is the longest period of time that an applicant has had to wait for (a) the

issuing of a new gun licence and (b) the renewal of an existing licence under

the new legislation:

(4) What action has the Attorney-General taken to inform people renewing gun

licences that there arc long delays and renewal applications should be lodged

well in advance.

(5) Is any temporary licence being issued to gun owners who are being caught out

by delays in processing licence applications.

What advice is being given to gun owners who are caught out by these delays.

Are such gun owners being advised to surrender their guns during the period between the expiry of existing licences and the issuing of new licences.

(8) What action does the Attorney-General intend to take to eliminate the

problems associated with the time it takes to issue new licences.

Mr Connolly - the answer to the Members question is as follows:

(1) . . I am advised by the Chief Police Officer that the processing time for issuing

or renewing licences has been reduced to approximately one week.

(2) As at 7 July 1992 there were no outstanding applications for licence renewal.

(3) (a) 6 weeks.

(b) 6 weeks.

The procedures are identical for issuing a new licence and renewing a licence.