Australia’s gun lobby is pouring money into a US-style state election campaign aimed at weakening Victoria’s firearms laws, according to anti-violence campaigners.

Gun Control Australia says the Shooting Industry Firearms Association (SIFA) is using tactics developed by the National Rifle Association to get pro-gun politicians into Victoria’s parliament to work against the state’s weapons control laws.

Jeff Bourman (right) welcomes Ricky Muir to the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party. Credit:Joe Armao

The association insists the campaign it is funding, called ‘Not Happy Dan’, asking voters to preference the Labor Party last, is simply a response to community concerns identified in its research. A spokeswoman initially said the campaign would cost $200,000 and later said the budget was $165,000.

The group is also contributing to the election campaign of the Shooters and Fishers Party, which failed this year to relax restrictions on silencers through the state parliament.