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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1997 Week 5 Hansard (15 May) . . Page.. 1475 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

to possess that weapon. There is no requirement that a person handing in a weapon either prove ownership of that weapon or prove that he or she lives in the ACT. So, I can live in New South Wales and simply roll up to a police station in the ACT with an armful of banned weapons, lodge them and get compensation for them and not be asked to prove where I got the weapons, whether I own the weapons, how I came into possession of the weapons or whatever. So, in those circumstances, the possibility of a floodgate opening is very real.

Mr Wood: Is that just during the amnesty, or at any time?

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, it is just during the amnesty. That applies only during the amnesty, which will now run until 30 September. But, if gun owners who have held back their weapons - and there are very considerable numbers in New South Wales alone - felt that they could get higher valuations in the ACT, for their weapons, the modified ones, for example, that Mr Elliott refers to, then undoubtedly many would try to do so. They would bring their weapons to the ACT and attempt to hand them over, and they could legally do so - except, of course, that it is illegal to possess them in the first place.

This is one thing not understood about the amnesty. The amnesty does not mean that it is legal to own the weapons which are now banned. It merely means that it is legal to hand them in. And you can do so and get compensation without having difficult questions asked by the police - unless, of course, the weapon has been used in a crime, for example, and there is evidence of that. Otherwise, Mr Speaker, the situation is that a floodgate could be a very real issue if this loophole is not closed immediately.

concerns raised by Ms Tucker, I certainly think, are real. I hope that we have continued to protect the integrity of the legislation that we have passed already in this place. I thank members for the unanimity that they have shown towards this very important national project.

MR SPEAKER: Are you tabling any documents, Mr Humphries?

MR HUMPHRIES: Yes, Mr Speaker. Thank you for reminding me. I table the minute that I referred to.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Leave granted to dispense with the detail stage.

Bill agreed to.

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