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Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 2003 Week 7 Hansard (26 June) . . Page.. 2595 ..

MR WOOD

I will hold with the bill. I do not think we can accept amendments, because we are inheriting a package that has been widely supported amongst governments, and I believe we should hold to that.

Ms Tucker pointed out a range of issues around the holding of weapons, some of which have emerged today in the tightening-up process. Mr Stefaniak might have to become a very keen member of his various organisations-if he is in a pistol club, at any rate-because you would have to be keen to maintain your licence. The legal avenues that Mr Stefaniak raised are a matter for another time, but they are something to be considered.

It might be appropriate if I foreshadow now the amendments that I will move and then not repeat them, unless I have to, as we go through the detail stage. There were some outstanding matters nationally, which require resolution by COAG, and these have been addressed in a recent letter from the Prime Minister to our Chief Minister.

A significant matter is the composition of the accredited events for which hand guns up to .45 calibre will be permitted so as to enable international level competition to proceed. The bill, in amendments to the Firearms Regulation 1997, specifies metallic silhouette and single or western action as the accredited events. The Prime Minister has stated that his preference is for these to be the sole accredited events.

There are other events in which shooters may compete internationally, such as those associated with the International Practical Shooting Confederation, IPSC, which comprises combat style shooting; the National Rifle Association, which uses large-calibre hand guns; and the police and service match events, which use military and police hand guns.

It is argued that these events can continue to be conducted with up to .38 calibre hand guns, but shooters involved in some of the IPSC events, in particular, may not be internationally competitive, as .45 calibre is the standard. This government has stated that it will conform with any COAG decision on this matter, and I will advise members of any consequential changes to the regulations.

The amendments to the bill, which I will be moving shortly, are directed primarily at facilitating the removal of additional hand guns from the community, a proposal which was made by the Prime Minister in his letter to all state and territory premiers and chief ministers and which has generally been accepted. The amendments will provide for target pistol shooters who are not able to meet the stringent new requirements for hand gun ownership to surrender all of their hand guns and receive full compensation, provided their licences are also cancelled for a minimum of five years. The Prime Minister has advised that this compensation will be fully funded by the Commonwealth.

This provision will address any concerns that the bill does not facilitate the removal of a broader range of hand guns from the community. The amendments also clarify that compensation will be paid to collectors for surrendered post-1946 pistols and to shooters for parts and accessories which are intrinsic to their surrendered hand guns. This is provided for in the buy-back arrangements.

Further, there is a requirement for the regulations to provide for a dispute resolution procedure. This will comprise a valuation panel, consistent with all other jurisdictions, to

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