Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan today revealed that he was unaware of changes to the National Firearms Agreement (NFA) outside of the lever-action shotgun alterations.

The 2017 National Firearms Agreement was published on the Attorney-General’s Department website in February without an announcement.

The new document contained dozens of changes, including:

Obtaining a licence for an ‘occupational’ interest has changed from “genuine reason” to “genuine need”.

The removal of Category C and D firearms from occupational/professional shooters would restrict professional pest culling operations or make them ineffective.

In the 1996 Agreement the word ‘must’ is used 15 times and in the 2002 Agreement six times. In the 2017 Agreement the word is used 58 times.

The effect of the change would bring about corresponding mandatory change in the state and territory jurisdictions. In most cases the jurisdictions have addressed the risk or intent of the current sections in slightly different ways.

The release of the new document came after 18 months of hot debate between anti-gun campaigners and responsible firearm owners. The antis’ debate was shrouded in misinformation and emotive rhetoric.

A response to the Sydney Siege Inquiry, the NFA review was supposed to “simplify the regulation of the legal firearms market through an update of the technical elements of the National Firearms Agreement”.

Minister Keenan said the only changes to the NFA would be “those which enabled the re-classification of lever-action shotguns; the consolidation of the 1996 National Firearms Agreement and the 2002 National Handguns Agreement (Consolidated Resolutions) into one document; and changes necessary in the light of technological developments”.

But he told the Firearms Industry Reference Group – which includes SSAA National – that he was unaware of the many other changes.

It appears Minister Keenan has allowed himself to be dictated to by bureaucrats. Now he must make changes to the NFA to ensure he is fulfilling his original commitment.

SSAA Victoria is calling on all members to write to Minister Keenan and remind him of how influential the sports shooting community is. It’s time to again put the pressure on. Remember, be polite, use your own words and remind him of how important your votes are.

POSTAL ADDRESS: PO Box 989, Innaloo, WA 6918

TELEPHONE: 08 9445 3222

FAX: 08 9445 2866

EMAIL: Michael.Keenan.MP@aph.gov.au