news, Meg Webb, Richard Griggs, Ron Cornish, Deborah Brewer, Vica Bayley, Gun Control Australia, Nelson, Pembroke

The role of independent members in the upper house was a central point of debate at a Legislative Council candidate forum on gun safety laws in Tasmania. The panel, hosted by Gun Control Australia and Medics for Gun Control, was attended by eight Legislative Council candidates from the divisions of Nelson and Pembroke. Nelson independent candidate Richard Griggs said it was the role of independent members to hold the government accountable on issues that matter, such as gun safety. "Prior to the last state election, we had a government that thought it was okay to secretly promise to water down gun laws. In Tasmania, the home of Port Arthur, it just shows how out of touch governments can become," Mr Griggs said. "Any independent member, especially a really proactive and strong independent member, offers insurance against governments that become secretive and arrogant." Of the eight attending candidates, seven were independents and one was a member of the Greens. Although candidates from the Liberal, Labor and Shooters, Fishers and Farmers parties were invited to join the panel, none chose to attend. Nelson Greens candidate Deborah Brewer disagreed with the panel discussion about the influence of independent members and said her position as a member of the Greens, with her party's strong position on gun safety, would make her a effective voice in the Legislative Council. Nelson independent candidate Vica Bayley said the gun debate was synonymous with what was wrong with Tasmanian politics. "How is it that a government can believe it's okay to formulate policy with a single set of stakeholders, in secret, and not even put that on the record in the lead up to an election?" Mr Bayley said. "The government's own nominated candidates aren't here and that's a shame." Pembroke independent candidate Ron Cornish said he was the only candidate to campaign on this issue. "We are not fully compliant with the National Firearms Agreement. I've offered to work with Gun Control Australia, if I am elected as a member of the Legislative Council, to bring in a bill to make us fully compliant with the law," Mr Cornish said. Nelson independent candidate Meg Webb said decision making on regulating guns should be done by balancing the interests of safety and appropriate use. "Guns aren't like any other tool or piece of equipment - their purpose is to take life. Because of that particular nature of that product we need to think how we regulate it and protect our community," Ms Webb said.

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