Page 3614 - Week 08 - Thursday, 19 August 2010
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Leave granted.
MR CORBELL: I move the amendment circulated in my name [see schedule 1 at page 3702].
This amendment will allow me, as the Minister for Police and Emergency Services, to authorise the issue of a temporary international firearms licence within the normal 28-day waiting period. The minister would only be able to authorise the issue of a licence if the applicant has already satisfied the Registrar of Firearms that they have a genuine reason to possess or use a firearm under section 128(1)(a) of the act; that is, that the applicant is a member of the staff of an internationally protected person and the applicant’s duties include the protection of that person while in the ACT. The Registrar of Firearms would first have to consider the merits of the application and seek ministerial authorisation only if the circumstances of the application require the issue of the licence within the 28-day period.
Although other alternatives are available to government to allow the appropriate possession and use of firearms in these cases, the government has taken the view that a change to the act would allow the Registrar of Firearms to oversight and regulate the firearms to be used. The register’s purview would include the name and address of the applicant, the firearm to be used, the arrangements for the storage of the firearm and any other condition of use appropriate to the circumstances.
This is an important amendment that would facilitate the more effective processing of applications for those people who carry firearms for the protection of internationally protected persons should and when they choose to visit the territory. I commend the amendment to the Assembly.
MADAM DEPUTY SPEAKER: Do you wish to table a supplementary explanation?
MR CORBELL: My apologies. For the information of members, I table the following paper:
Supplementary explanatory statement to the government amendment.
MR SESELJA (Molonglo—Leader of the Opposition) (10.41): As I said earlier, the opposition will support the government’s amendment to the Firearms Act 1996. This amendment would allow the registrar to issue a temporary international firearms licence earlier than 28 days after the application is made. The registrar may only do so if the applicant has a genuine reason to possess or use a firearm in the circumstances which are described in section 128(1)(a) when the minister in writing authorises the issue of the licence.
I understand this is to allow for situations such as short-notice visits by foreign heads of state—for example, the US President. The opposition will support the amendment.
Amendment agreed to.
Bill, as a whole, as amended, agreed to.
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