Rural landholders make up the largest number of legitimate firearms users in Queensland for business purposes.
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For primary producers, euthanising sick, distressed or injured livestock is a fact of life, as is the need to control feral animals like wild dogs and pigs.
It’s heartening that the broader community recognises the importance of firearms as a “tool of the trade” for farmers, with a recent poll in the Townsville region showing more than 90 per cent of those surveyed supported farmers owning a firearm for their farm work.
Last week, I joined with a range of stakeholders to discuss firearm regulations at a meeting of the State Government’s Ministerial Firearms Forum.
While stakeholders have previously been engaged separately by this government, it is good to see new Police Minister Mark Ryan ensuring end users like primary producers and the firearms dealers’ network were all in the same room, as we all share similar concerns about heavy handed regulations and unnecessary red tape.
AgForce has been particularly concerned about the Weapons Licensing Branch’s misguided interpretation of Category H firearms (handguns) use and primary producers’ needs, as well as the increasing number of declined applications for both new licences and renewals.
AgForce will continue to argue that all applications should be assessed in accordance with current Queensland law, not on any potential future changes that may flow from the new National Firearms Agreement.
This agreement was a key topic of discussion at the forum, and while many primary producers may not be overly concerned about new restrictions on lever action shotguns, it could just be the thin end of the wedge.
The bigger concern is what this could mean down the track for Category A or B firearm types more commonly used by primary producers, such as lever action rifles.
In addition, it was highlighted there are nearly 50 areas of concern within the new agreement that would negatively and severely impact on legitimate Queensland firearms users if adopted.
That’s why AgForce and other stakeholders are calling for more extensive consultation with the Queensland Government and the Weapons Licensing Branch to ensure primary producers are not adversely affected by impractical changes to firearms regulations.
