THE Palaszczuk government will restrict access to high capacity lever action shotguns.
Lever action shotguns with a capacity of five or fewer round will be transferred from Category A to Category B, and those able to hold more than five rounds will move to the virtually inaccessible Category D.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the decision would still ensure farmers had access to the weapons they need to do their jobs.
“We’re talking about restricting access to a small number of high capacity shotguns,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“At present, any kind of lever action shotgun is classified as a Category A weapon, the lowest classification of firearms.
The question for the owner of any lever action weapon is now what is next?
- Graham Park
"What we’re doing will bring the treatment of these guns into line with other types of shotgun, such as pump action or self-loading weapons.
“This won’t prevent primary producers from eradicating vermin, but ensures that all high capacity lethal firearms can only be possessed by the very small number of people who have a legitimate reason to do so.
AgForce firearms spokesman Graham Park said it was unclear how many farmers were affected by the annoucement.
However, up to 2000 kits had been sold in Queensland to extend some models of some lever action shotguns from five rounds to seven rounds, he said.
“I think many people will just give them up because they will become category D weapons,” Mr Park said. “The question for the owner of any lever action weapon is now what is next?”
Ms Palaszczuk said the reclassification brought Queensland into line with a COAG decision in December 2016 to strengthen the National Firearms Agreement (NFA).
She said NSW, Western Australia and the Australian Capital Territory had all legislated to reclassify lever action shotguns in accordance with the revised NFA. Other jurisdictions were various stages of implementation, she said.
Basic firearms licences in Queensland permit licensees to possess either Category A or B weapons.
Changes to weapons licencing will take effect from March 2018.
Compensation for the reclassified shotguns has already been ruled out.