Page 2763 - Week 07 - Thursday, 3 July 2008
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of livestock and pasture from vermin as well as the humane destruction of sick and injured livestock.
Members of the ACT Rural Landholders Association have put it to me, through the Firearms Consultative Committee, that primary producers who work on the land in the ACT and who have young children are not currently able to teach and mentor their sons or daughters in the use of the very important tool that a firearm represents on a rural property.
It is for this reason that the government is supporting the extension of the valid reasons for minors firearms licences for primary production. The government believes it is important to recognise and support primary producers. As a result, with a change in this clause, a young person whose parent is a firearms licensee, who is a primary producer, will be able to obtain a minors firearms licence with instruction in the use of firearms for primary production as the stated reason on their licence. This will allow the young person to engage in shooting activities on the family farm under the supervision of the person with parental responsibility who is also a primary producer firearms licensee. However, the government does not support an extension of the minors licence for recreational hunting on rural land.
The compelling nature of primary producers’ land management needs is not evident for recreational hunting and the effect of the alternative amendment proposed by Mr Stefaniak would be to extend recreational hunting for all minors licences in the territory. We do not believe that is appropriate. As a result, we do not support an extension of the power to that extent.
MR STEFANIAK (Ginninderra) (6.19): In speaking to Mr Corbell’s amendment, I will also be moving amendment No 2 circulated in my name, which he has made comment about.
MR SPEAKER: We can only deal with Mr Corbell’s amendment at this stage.
MR STEFANIAK: It probably would have been tidier to deal with mine first, Mr Speaker, because I can count the numbers. We could have got rid of that and then—
MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell has moved his.
MR STEFANIAK: In relation to the matter, I will speak to my amendment in speaking to Mr Corbell’s, to save time.
MR SPEAKER: You have to speak to Mr Corbell’s amendment because your amendment cannot be moved yet.
MR STEFANIAK: I am doing that, but the comments I will make in speaking to Mr Corbell’s amendment relate to my amendment as well. I am pleased that Mr Corbell moved his amendment, but it only goes part of the way in dealing with what is necessary. What I think is necessary is what is contained in my amendment No 2. The amendments in this bill in relation to licences for minors limit the
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