COMPELLING evidence, not emotion, should dictate any future changes to the National Firearms Agreement.

That was the resolution agreed by the Nationals at the party’s federal conference at the weekend, the first since last year’s federal election.

Victorian senator Bridget McKenzie, who put forward the motion on the National Firearms Agreement — which governs firearms laws nationally — told the conference “we’ve got to recognise over one million Australians who are law-abiding firearms owners in this country”.

It follows the ban and subsequent reclassification under the NFA of the Adler lever-­action shotgun, which saw Senator McKenzie and NSW National John Williams cross the floor in federal Parliament in protest, and prompted furious debate on all sides of the community.

“I think as the National Party we need to be very clear who we’re talking to and about, and be sure that any decision made around firearms is made around evidence, not emotion,” Senator McKenzie said.

While the NFA requires all states to agree to it, states then administer their own firearms laws. NSW is currently redrafting its firearms regulations.

National Party members also backed a call for four-year parliamentary terms, with NSW Nationals chairman Bede Burke arguing it would allow for better governance.

Victorian Deputy Nationals Leader Steph Ryan won support for her motion questioning Australia Post’s effectiveness in regional Australia.