Page 208 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020
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Our firearms legislation is robust in ensuring public safety and, at the same time, reflecting the interests of legitimate firearms users. As I have said before, the government acknowledges that the overwhelming majority of firearms users are law-abiding citizens. There are many valid uses of firearms in the community, and this bill is designed to support these legitimate activities.
The amendments in this bill are consistent with maintaining community safety from firearms crime, while allowing efficient access to firearms for legitimate users under specified circumstances. Firearms legislation generally requires a person to be authorised by a licence or permit to possess and use firearms, including an imitation firearm. However, there is provision for people to be exempted from these requirements in specified circumstances.
This bill introduces two exemptions to these requirements for specific purposes. The first circumstance in which the bill introduces an exemption is in order to contribute to strengthening public safety at Canberra Airport. Aviation security inspectors are employed by the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs. Amongst other duties, these inspectors conduct systems tests at passenger, staff and goods screening points in airports around Australia. By possessing and carrying imitation firearms and other items such as fake or blunted knives they contest the system.
These tests are necessary to evaluate the effectiveness of current transport security processes and help to ensure that the industry is compliant with aviation security requirements to detect and deny the entry of prohibited items or weapons into a secure zone. Inspectors have been required to comply with each state and territory’s firearms and prohibited weapons legislation, including the requirement to obtain permits for each imitation firearm and prohibited weapon used in testing security arrangements.
The bill provides that commonwealth aviation security inspectors will be exempt from the requirements to have a permit to possess and use imitation firearms in the course of their duties. The bill similarly provides that aviation security inspectors who carry prohibited weapons such as blunted knives and fake improvised explosive devices in the course of their duties do not commit an offence under the Prohibited Weapons Act. These exemptions are consistent with others already in ACT legislation for the possession and use of firearms by law enforcement and military personnel in the course of their duties.
These changes were sought by the commonwealth Minister for Home Affairs and will streamline the arrangements for aviation security inspectors. I strongly support any reasonable measures aimed at strengthening aviation security for the safety of the general community and those working in the industry.
The second circumstance in which the amendments made by the bill apply is in relation to the possession and use of laser target shooting devices in the sports of biathlon and modern pentathlon. Australia competes in both biathlon and modern pentathlon at the Olympic Games. Modern pentathlon made its Olympic debut in 1912 and it consists of five events: shooting, fencing, swimming, horseriding and running. The sport requires well-rounded athletes.
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