Police Minister Felix Ellis has appointed nine members to a new firearms consultative committee, with a federal deadline on national gun reform just weeks away.
The committee will advise the government on firearms regulation.
It includes representatives from farming, sporting shooters and firearms dealers alongside gun control advocates from the Alannah and Madeline Foundation and Medics for Gun Control.
Ellis said the committee would help balance community safety with supporting responsible firearms owners.
“Tasmania will take a calm and considered approach with the highest priority being accelerating the national firearms register for better intelligence sharing,” he said.
The federal government has set a March deadline for states to commit to proposed measures including caps on firearm ownership and tighter restrictions on classifications.
The committee’s first meeting will occur before the end of February.
Premier Jeremy Rockliff said cabinet would make an initial decision on reforms “in coming weeks”.
He defended the committee as a long-term consultation body promised at the last election.
“We want to crack down on those that deliberately flout the law and also we want to listen to and consult with law-abiding firearm owners,” he said.
Rockliff said the government was taking a “measured approach” on caps and firearm restrictions.
“We want to ensure that we are part of a national reform when it comes to the firearm registry and we’re investing significant funds when it comes to that investment as well,” he said.
Greens MP Tabatha Badger called on the government to commit to the national reforms before the March deadline.
“Clearly the minister is trying to run down the clock as part of a deliberate strategy to deny the push for critical new firearm safety measures, like caps on ownership and tighter restrictions on classifications,” she said.
Ellis said Tasmania was leading on the national firearms register.
“At the first meeting the committee will review changes to legislation to enable the national firearms register to keep firearms out of the wrong hands,” he said.
Firearms consultative committee members:
Andrew Judd – Sporting Shooters Association of Australia
Cheryl Arnol – Various
Deborah Thomson – Engender Equality
Ellen Freeman – Recreational hunter
Geoff Hendley – Firearm dealer
Nathan Cox – TasFarmers
Phill Pullinger – Medics for Gun Control
Stephen Bendle – Alannah and Madeline Foundation
Sergeant Cam Little – Police Association of Tasmania
