Southern Districts Rifle Club president Warrick Corney said he didn’t attend a protest at Parliament House two weeks ago despite his concerns about the new firearm laws which took effect in March.
“We take our lead from Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (SSAA) and they’re working in other fields to discuss with the Police Minister and relevant authorities around the Firearms Act and how that affects shooters, particularly within the SSAA,” he said.
“Shooters who attended the rally, it’s my belief, are the members of different associations or they may be members of SSAA but they are more aligning to the hunting side of SSAA as opposed to the target shooting side.”
A disallowance motion for the new firearm regulations was moved by Legalise Cannabis MLC Brian Walker on the same day as the rally outside Parliament.
“The atmosphere was electric and full of energy,” Mr Walker said.
“What stood out for me was the overwhelming support from a body of people who previously would not have looked twice at me but who gave loud and encouraging support for the path I show for all residents.”
Mr Walker said the Firearms Act 1973 was overdue for a rewrite.
“Not everything in the new Act is bad,” he said.
“But there is so much that needs to be done both for legislation and also regulations that it would be only right for the Act to be
placed on hold to get it right.”
Police Minister Reece Whitby said the new firearm reforms were what’s right for WA and the state government was committed to delivering it.
“We will continue to work with the thousands of responsible gun owners who have already committed or are in the process of being part of the new licensing system,” Mr Whitby said.
Mr Corney said SDRC has been the only club in WA to navigate through a range license.
“That means a target shooter can have up to 10 firearms and they are supported by the club, or the SSAA in this case, and those firearms for the purposes of target shooting on ranges.”
He said it was extremely difficult to get the licence for the club.
“The portal doesn’t work,” he said.
“Police told us that we had met all the requirements and that we were fine.
“I downloaded all this information and then I got to the payment part of the portal and it wasn’t set up to take payment.”
Mr Corney said he contacted the licensing services for assistance but was unable to make payment for days leading him to contact the Police Minister’s office.
“They eventually took credit card details over the phone to pay for the range licence and that was the only way you could do it.”
Mr Corney said he supported the need to update the 1973 Act but there was a lack of consultation.
“Part of my role is also the state chairman for field rifle and three position shooting in WA, which are the precursor events to Olympic and Commonwealth Games events,” he said.
“And I had no consultation.
“I had no opportunity for me to be able to sit down and discuss the things that we need for our sport and how the act would impact us.”
Mr Corney said the Australian national champion and the Australian junior national champion were members of SDRC.
He said he saw a high demand for training programs from members which helped them get to the elite levels of the sport.
“But what we found is we’ve gone from poor legislation to poor legislation and it’s still not current for today,” he said.
“We’re going to have to learn to live with this Act, whether we like it or not,” Mr Corney said.
“It can be changed but we all know the hardest thing to do is change an Act of Parliament.”
