Tasmania’s opposition is calling on Premier Jeremy Rockliff to end confusion over his government’s stance on national gun reforms, accusing Liberal ministers of sending mixed messages.
National firearms laws passed by the federal parliament this week must be implemented by June 30, with the buyback period running until December 2027.
Labor MLC Luke Edmunds said the government needed to clearly state its position.
“We’ve got Felix Ellis saying one thing and Bridget Archer saying another,” Edmunds said.
“To sool off Felix Ellis on Twitter while we have Bridget Archer saying different things in the media is not a good message to send to the Tasmanian community.”
Police Minister Felix Ellis has raised concerns about the cost, warning a gun buyback scheme could cost the state over $20 million – more than the cost of building a new primary school.
“We won’t rush this. We will listen to our community, not rubber-stamp Canberra’s agenda,” Ellis said on Tuesday evening.
Minister Bridget Archer had earlier struck a more conciliatory tone.
“Tasmania has said that we are open to reforms but we also need to work through that and have those discussions in a measured and considered way,” she said.
Edmunds warned the government against running down the clock, noting the state parliament still had a budget to pass before June.
“We’ve seen this government take forever to get key legislation drafted and through parliament,” he said. “The clock is already ticking on this.”
The 1996 buyback following the Port Arthur massacre was fully funded by the federal government.
Under the new scheme, costs would be split 50-50 between Canberra and the states.
Edmunds said Labor supported the federal recommendations and a buyback, but declined to commit to the funding split until the government clarified its position.
