Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .

Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1996 Week 3 Hansard (27 March) . . Page.. 746 ..

MR HUMPHRIES (continuing):

I said that most of the provisions are supported. I think it is true to say that the ban on semiautomatic weapons exchange and sale is not supported. I should put that clearly on the record. It is, from that point of view, the most contentious provision in this legislation; but it is, let me say, in fact, no change at all. As was mentioned in the course of the debate, this is merely a restatement of an existing ban imposed through the Consumer Affairs Act. We would all accept, I think, that weapons control should not be engineered through the Consumer Affairs Act. It should be engineered through the Weapons Act, and that is why it is being transmigrated into this piece of legislation.

We are also working on the question of photographic licences. I think it is appropriate to move down that path, if we can. There are two Australian jurisdictions, I think, which presently have them. There is obviously a trade in weapons - some of it an illegal trade - and we can better control that if we have photographic licences. I think we can move down that path. One issue for us in the ACT, of course, is cost. A smaller regime with fewer gun owners obviously results in a higher per unit cost, but that need not be an obstacle to doing this. Mr Speaker, in other jurisdictions the Liberal Party might be perceived to be less inclined to want to control ownership of weapons. As I say, I think it is commendable that, for whatever reason, we have all been able to agree on the approach to take in this place, and I hope that we will be able to build on that in the future as other issues in this area emerge and we move towards uniformity, if we can get it, on high standards, with other places in Australia.

Question resolved in the affirmative.

Bill agreed to in principle.

Bill, by leave, taken as a whole

MR HUMPHRIES (Attorney-General) (5.09): Mr Speaker, I present a supplementary explanatory memorandum. I ask for leave to move together amendments 1 and 2 circulated in my name.

Leave granted.

MR HUMPHRIES: I move:

Page 4, line 8, clause 5 -

Paragraph (f), omit "and" (last occurring).

Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . .