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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 5 Hansard (14 May) . . Page.. 1224 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

In addition, the following weapons will be subject to a ban on their sale, resale, transfer, ownership, possession, manufacture and use: Semiautomatic rim-fire rifles with a magazine capacity no greater than 10 rounds; semiautomatic shotguns with a magazine capacity of no greater than five rounds; and pump-action shotguns with a magazine capacity no greater than five rounds. However, in the case of these weapons, it is intended that exemptions be granted by the Chief Police Officer for occupational categories of shooters who have been licensed for a specific purpose. The test of such a weapon will be an assessment of why it is required in the context of why a weapon not prohibited could not be used instead. In any case, the maximum number of weapons permitted will be one semiautomatic rifle and one semiautomatic shotgun. Each individual case will be assessed on its merits by the Chief Police Officer, not his or her delegate, and his or her approval will be required. A very early assessment provided to me by the Australian Federal Police indicates that in the ACT very few exemptions would be required. The Council of Ministers will be required to approve uniform guidelines to cover such cases.

Mr Speaker, the exact nature of legislative amendments to give effect to the exemption scheme will be brought forward in an amendment to the Weapons Act in the near future. Until that amendment is enacted, I will have the power to issue an exemption by way of a disallowable instrument, which I will sign only on a recommendation of the Chief Police Officer. I would envisage these amendments being ready for introduction in the June sittings. The Commonwealth will immediately ban the importation of all semiautomatic self-loading and pump-action longarms and all parts, including magazines, for those banned firearms. The importation of those firearms, and their parts, for which exemptions may be sought will be tightly controlled. The Commonwealth agreed to a request from some States for an exemption classification for primary producers in particular, which is based on the details I have outlined here; but, in doing so, they toughened the ability they first proposed to own semiautomatic centre-fire weapons, which are generally regarded as high-powered, high-velocity weapons.

The second issue is effective nationwide registration of all firearms. The Ministers resolved that New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania would immediately establish an integrated licensing and firearms registration system and that all jurisdictions examine their systems to ensure compatibility. Following this, all jurisdictions' systems will be linked through the national exchange of police information, NEPI, to ensure nationwide registration of all firearms. This is a significant step forward for Australia. For many years, New South Wales, Tasmania and Queensland have held out against registration of firearms, and they are to be congratulated for accepting the national interest over their own State political interests. It is clear that without uniform registration it is very difficult for one State with tight controls to keep a strong control over weapons entering their territory.

The third issue is a genuine reason for owning, possessing or using a firearm. The States and Territories have agreed to a uniform system of classifications to define a genuine reason for the need to own, possess or use a firearm. This applies particularly to those weapons not affected by the ban to which I referred earlier, including bolt-action rifles and shotguns. Those reasons are as follows: Sporting shooters with valid membership of an approved club, defined as participants in shooting events recognised in the charters of

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