Gun News Australia: the latest news for Aussie shooters

NSW POLICE have now served their documents in our NCAT proceedings concerning the National Firearms and Weapons Policy Working Group.
This is an important milestone, but it is not the end of the process. We are now preparing our submissions before the Tribunal considers the next stage of the case.
This case is about far more than one Freedom of Information request. It concerns transparency, accountability and the public’s right to understand how national firearms policy is being developed. Australians deserve confidence that important public policy is being made openly and lawfully.
In this episode we explain where the proceedings now stand, what NSW Police have provided, what still remains before the Tribunal, and what viewers should expect over the coming months.
Thank you to everyone who has supported this work. Your encouragement and financial assistance are helping us continue pursuing these important public interest issues through the Tribunal process.
Want to support the fight?Donate via GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/filed-at-ncat-were-fighting-nsw-police-over-gun-policy
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#GunNewsAustralia  #FirearmsPolicy  #FOI  #NCAT  #Transparency  #NSWPolice  #GovernmentAccountability  #NationalFirearmsPolicy

POLITICIANS leave office, but the systems they create can remain for decades.
Paul Papalia has retired from Western Australian politics, while the Firearms Act 2024, its ownership limits, health assessments, storage rules and continuing licensing transition remain in force.
Across the Pacific, Dianne Feinstein’s original 1994 federal assault-weapons ban expired in 2004, but the policy model, terminology and campaign for renewed restrictions continued to shape American politics.
This episode examines two different kinds of political legacy: a live statutory and administrative system in Western Australia, and an enduring legislative template in the United States.
We also examine what the evidence can and cannot prove, including Western Australia’s 83,764 surrendered firearms, the reported 24 per cent reduction in registered ownership, and the continuing dispute over the measurable effects of the former U.S. ban.
The central question is simple: before governments impose restrictions that may last for generations, have they defined the problem, measured the likely outcome, consulted properly and created a genuine independent review process?
Because ministers eventually move on. Shooters, clubs, farmers, collectors and communities are left living with what they built.
#GunNewsAustralia #FirearmsPolicy #WesternAustralia #PaulPapalia #DianneFeinstein #GunLaws #EvidenceBasedPolicy #ShootingSports

THIS EPISODE examines the launch of the Gun Traders Australia marketplace and why it could become one of the biggest changes for Australian firearm dealers—and licensed shooters—in years.
Think of it as the emerging Coles of the online gun world.
We discuss how the platform imports dealer catalogues, synchronises inventory and reduces the double handling involved in maintaining online stores, while helping dealers reach more potential customers.
The platform also helps solve one of the industry's biggest challenges: dealers increasingly finding their websites, online stores, payment services and social media accounts restricted by mainstream technology providers.
In New South Wales, new firearms laws have made operating a firearms business even more difficult – and this solution helps them work around that.
Rather than relying on platforms that often don't understand or support the firearms industry, this marketplace has been built specifically for Australian firearm dealers and the licensed shooters they serve.
It means finding a gun, part or accessory, has been made easier.
If you value evidence-based reporting and practical discussions about Australia's firearms industry, subscribe to Gun News Australia and help us continue producing independent coverage of the issues that matter to licensed shooters and dealers.
#GunNewsAustralia #GunTradersAustralia #FirearmsIndustry #FirearmDealers #AustralianShooters #ShootingSports #RetailTechnology #Firearms

RADICAL ANTI-GUN GROUPS are to blame for the loss of a firearms consultative committee in Tasmania - and they're trying to do the same elsewhere.
​IN THIS EPISODE, we examine the Tasmanian Government's decision to abolish the Firearms Consultative Committee, why it was made, and what this change could mean for licensed shooters, hunting organisations, shooting clubs and other stakeholders across the state.
​We look at the official documents and the available evidence to explain how the committee previously operated, the role it played in providing advice to government, and whether the new arrangements will provide the same level of consultation and accountability.
The episode also considers the practical implications of removing a formal advisory body, including whether firearm owners will continue to have meaningful opportunities to contribute to future policy decisions and whether the replacement consultation process will be as effective.
​We also examine the government's explanation for the change, the concerns raised by the shooting community, and the broader significance of this decision for anyone interested in firearms policy, transparent decision-making and public consultation in Tasmania.
#GunNewsAustralia #FirearmsPolicy #Tasmania #FirearmsConsultativeCommittee #EvidenceBasedPolicy #GovernmentAccountability #FirearmLaw #Consultation #PublicPolicy

THE NSW STATE BUDGET contains a major firearms policy admission: the Government says it has committed to participating in the National Gun Buyback Scheme and is working with the Australian Government on funding and parameters.
However, when we reviewed the Budget papers, we found clear money for the Firearms Registry, the National Firearms Register and police capability -but no clear, dedicated line item for compensation.IN THIS EPISODE of Gun News Australia, we examine what the NSW Budget actually says, what the $8.3 million reference is really for, and why the absence of a visible buyback appropriation matters.
If NSW has committed to a national buyback, when will licensed shooters be told what firearms are affected, how compensation will be calculated, and who is paying for it?We also look at the difference between a policy commitment, Commonwealth funding, Treasurer contingencies and money actually appropriated by Parliament.#GunNewsAustralia #NSWBudget #FirearmsPolicy #LicensedShooters #GunBuyback #FirearmsRegistry #NSWPolitics #AustralianPolitics #FirearmsLaw #PublicAccountability

MAJOR FIREARMS POLICY WORK is being done through official working groups, but licensed shooters are being left to reconstruct the process through FOI requests, redacted documents and multiple review appeals.
IN THIS EPISODE of Gun News Australia, we begin an investigation into the Firearms and Weapons Policy Working Group and the awkwardly named Inconsistency Sub-Working Group.
Official documents show the sub-working group appeared as an agenda item in September 2023, with an update and next steps. The same meeting papers show proposed Terms of Reference changes, including inconsistency issues becoming a standing agenda item for Registry Managers Group meetings.We also look at the FOI trail: 33 documents identified by the Attorney-General's Department, only 2 released in full, 11 released in part and 20 refused in full.
A related NSW IPC review later found a NSW Police refusal to release the same documents was not justified and recommended a new decision.This episode is not about claiming more than the documents prove. It is about transparency, accountability and making sure licensed shooters understand how national firearms policy is being developed before decisions become law.#GunNewsAustralia #FirearmsPolicy #LicensedShooters #AustralianPolitics #FOI #GunLaws #FirearmsAustralia #NationalFirearmsRegister #ShootingSports #GovernmentAccountability

WITH TWO state elections looming (Vic / NSW), we speak with One Nation about its firearms policy.
Labor doesn't have one, and the Liberals don't have one either – leaving One Nation ahead of the pack.
That raises an important question for licensed shooters: how can voters make an informed decision if political parties won't clearly explain where they stand?In this interview, Gun News Australia speaks with Brendan McCreanor about why One Nation chose to publish its firearms policy, what that policy says, and why the party believes licensed shooters should become more involved in the political process ahead of the Victorian and NSW elections.
The discussion also explores transparency, consultation, evidence-based policymaking and the importance of holding governments and political parties accountable for the laws they propose.Whether you agree with One Nation or not, this interview is about ensuring Australians have enough information to assess competing policies and make informed decisions.
If you value factual reporting, interviews and accountability on firearms policy, please subscribe to Gun News Australia and join the discussion in the comments.Further information:• Victorian policy: https://vic.onenation.org.au/firearms-policy• Federal policy: https://www.onenation.org.au/firearms
#GunNewsAustralia #FirearmsPolicy #OneNation #LicensedShooters #Hunting #SportShooting #Victoria #NSW #AustralianPolitics #Firearms

THREE YEARS AGO Western Australian shooters found themselves at the centre of the “Connect the Guns” controversy.
Maps showing where firearm owners live were published across the state and public safety concerns were cited as part of the broader debate surrounding firearms reform.Gun News Australia recently lodged a Freedom of Information request seeking documents relating to firearms stolen from licensed owners before and after the maps were stolen to see what the actual level of firearm theft was.
The response we received did not conclude that such incidents never occurred. Nor did it make any finding about the overall impact of firearm theft.
However, WA Police advised that no documents could be located within the scope of the request.That raises an important question. If firearm theft and criminal misuse were significant factors in the push for major legislative change, where is the documented evidence supporting those claims?In this episode we revisit the original “Connect the Guns” article, examine the concerns raised by shooters at the time, review the FOI response, and discuss why evidence matters when governments seek major changes to public policy.If you'd like to support more FOI work, investigations and accountability reporting, consider joining our email list and supporting Gun News Australia through Patreon.#GunNewsAustralia #WesternAustralia #FirearmsLaw #FOI #FreedomOfInformation #PaulPapalia #LicensedShooters #PublicSafety #FirearmsPolicy #GunLaws

THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT has introduced new firearms legislation that could significantly affect licensed shooters across the state.But before debating the details of the legislation itself, there is another question that deserves attention: who was actually consulted before these changes were announced?In this episode of Gun News Australia, we examine the new Firearms Amendment Bill, the role of Victoria's Firearms Consultative Committee, and reports that committee members were not provided with details of the proposals before they were announced publicly.Once again, licensed shooters appear to have been placed in a position of responding to proposals rather than helping shape them before they are announced. This is more than a pattern: it’s deliberate.We discuss why consultation matters, and why governments should be expected to explain both the problem they are trying to solve and the evidence supporting any new restrictions.As Victoria heads towards a state election, shooters should be asking a simple question: if consultation structures already exist, why weren't they used?
#GunNewsAustralia #FirearmsPolicy #GunLaws #LicensedShooters #VictorianPolitics #GovernmentAccountability #FirearmsConsultativeCommittee #PublicPolicy #PoliticalTransparency #ShootersRights

THE VICTORIAN Government has announced another round of firearms law changes, while anti-duck hunting activists continue to push for further restrictions on hunting and shooting activities across the state.
In this episode of Gun News Australia, we sit down with Danny Ryan, President of Sporting Clays Victoria, to discuss the growing political pressure facing licensed shooters and hunters in Victoria.
We examine the shady role of the Animal Justice Party, the campaign against duck hunting, and ask where they're getting their significant funding war chest from.
We also discuss how firearms policy is increasingly being announced through media releases and political staging, often before shooters have had an opportunity to see the detail or have meaningful input into the process.
What evidence is driving these proposals? What problem is the government trying to solve? And what should shooters be demanding from politicians before any further restrictions are introduced?
With Victoria heading towards a state election, these questions are becoming increasingly important for licensed shooters, hunters and sporting participants across the state.
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
#GunNewsAustralia #DannyRyan #DuckHunting #AnimalJusticeParty #VictorianPolitics #FirearmsLaw #GunLaws #LicensedShooters #Hunting #Victoria