The LNP and the Shooters Union have called on the Queensland government to immediately lift the remaining trade restrictions it imposed on the state's licensed gun shops and armourers as part of the coronavirus pandemic response.
Their calls follow news that the two other states that stopped dealers from selling firearms and ammunition to legitimate firearms licence-holders when fears of the pandemic's consequences were at their height, Victoria and Western Australia, have now removed their restrictions.
Both the Shooters Union and opposition agriculture spokesman Tony Perrett say no plausible reason had been given for the public health directive at the end of March that restricted business operations for all Queensland licensed armourers and licensed dealers until the end of the declared public health emergency.
That point was made by Mr Perrett in a letter to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk this week, in which he requested an urgent removal of the restrictions so Queensland gun dealers and armourers could resume normal operations and trading.
Related: Gun shop dumped by major bank
He said last week's government announcement of the easing of restrictions on business and social activity, and the anticipated roadmap, hadn't mentioned the firearms industry.
"These businesses were unilaterally added, in a blanket closure, by the Queensland government to those prescribed by the Australian government in response to the Covid-19 crisis," he said.
"I note that Western Australia and Victoria also imposed self-determined restrictions on the industry.
"In Western Australia, gun shops and firearm dealerships resumed trading on May 7, and from 11:59 last night (May 12) the Victorian government eased restrictions which it had placed on the firearms industry.
"Queensland now is the only state which continues to impose these unreasonable restrictions on the industry.
"As there is no identifiable reason to continue to maintain this position, I am therefore requesting an urgent removal of the restrictions so Queensland gun dealers and armourers can resume normal operations and trading as before."
Shooters Union Australia president Graham Park branded the ongoing restrictions as a political move, commenting that the decision to restrict gun shop trading hadn't been an outcome of national cabinet meetings and had only been implemented by Labor state governments.
"There is no - I repeat, absolutely none whatsoever - public health emergency justification for restricting the trade of licensed gun shops and armourers in Queensland or anywhere else. There wasn't one at the start of this mess and there isn't one now," he said.
The issue erupted at the end of March when hundreds of firearm dealers across Queensland were directed to close immediately with no reason given, leaving primary producers, feral pest controllers, macropod harvesters and vets without the ammunition required to conduct their business.
Following intense pressure from industry and rural representatives, that was amended a few days later to allow rural landowners and volunteer pest controllers to buy ammunition and reloading components.
However it still prevented target shooters, recreational hunters, and competition pistol shooters from buying ammunition or using police-issued Permits To Acquire for firearms.
"The home confinement directions have largely been lifted, outdoor shooting ranges are open again while exercising social distancing, and non-essential retail shopping is expressly permitted - so why are Queensland's shooters and associated businesses being punished," Mr Park asked.
He claimed a number of gun shops were facing financial ruin from having their livelihoods yanked out underneath them without any justification.
"These were viable local businesses, an important part of their community, and shut down because someone in Brisbane doesn't like guns and decided to take advantage of a crisis to further their own agenda," he said.
"Every hour Queensland's gun shops and armourers remain restricted in trade just adds to the mountain of proof this decision has been made to hurt law-abiding firearms owners and the businesses supporting them."
When contacted, a spokeswoman for Health Minister Steven Miles said the Chief Health Officer was considering the rules around firearms dealers and recreational shooting.
"The timing of removing these restrictions will be announced very soon," she said.
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
