Linda Reynolds – Liberal (Senate)

Dear Mr Beaton,

Thank you for your correspondence on 21 June 2016 regarding lawful firearm ownership

and use in Australia.

The Turnbull Coalition team are committed to preserving the interests of the legal firearms

market and owners including recreational shooters, while also maintaining a range of

measures to control firearms and their criminal misuse.

The Coalition is committed to retaining the Firearms Industry Reference Group, which has

been and will continue to be a vital resource in the review of the National Firearms

Agreement. Firearms laws in Australia are based mainly on the resolutions agreed upon by

Australian police ministers and compiled in this agreement. The Turnbull Government has

no plans to change this approach.

The Turnbull Government sought to pass legislation to provide for a mandatory minimum

sentence and increased maximum penalties for the offences of trafficking firearms within,

into and out of Australia. While this measure did not pass before the end of the

parliamentary term, a re-elected Turnbull Government would reintroduce this legislation.

Cracking down on illegal trafficking will help legitimate participants in the firearms industry,

such as your dealership, conduct their business legally.

There is no single measure or package of reforms that can prevent firearm crime or improve

safety overnight. While the Labor Party have been inconsistent on firearms, the Coalition

fully support the legitimate use of firearms by recreational shooters and will ensure the

needs and interests of legal firearms owners have been well considered in the development

of future firearms reforms.

Please contact my office on 08 9368 6633 or senator.reynolds@aph.gov.au should you

require any further information.

Sincerely,