Liberals playing politics with community safety

The Liberals are trying to scare farmers, hunters, and sporting shooters because they are too weak to show leadership on community safety.

Premier Rockliff agreed at National Cabinet that strong, decisive action was needed on gun law reform, including limits on the number of firearms any one individual can hold.

But now that it’s time to act, he has backed away.

Tasmania has more guns than at the time of Port Arthur, and the highest number of guns per capita in the nation. The Police Commissioner has supported the national firearms reform agenda, including a cap on the number of firearms any one person can hold.

The first job of any government is to keep the community safe. But instead, the Liberals are playing politics and defending unlimited guns in the community.

Labor does not support that, and Tasmanians do not support that either.

We will work constructively with the Parliament to deliver practical reforms that improve community safety while respecting the legitimate needs of primary producers, sports shooters, and recreational hunters.

The reforms we support do not stop lawful activities. They do not stop farmers doing their work, sporting shooters competing, or recreational hunters participating in their sport.

They put sensible safeguards in place, with a clear exemption process where a higher number of firearms can be justified.