Tasmanian parliament has voted down a Labor amendment to cap the number of firearms a person can legally own, with the proposal failing 16 votes to 15 shortly before 7pm tonight.
The amendment, moved by Labor member Jen Butler, would have limited licence holders to a maximum of 10 firearms overall and five for recreational hunting or vermin control.
Exemptions were built into the proposal, allowing the Police Commissioner to approve higher numbers where a legitimate reason existed.
Police Minister Felix Ellis said the government strongly opposed the amendment, arguing it lacked an evidence base and would penalise law-abiding firearms owners without removing a single illegal gun from the streets.
“We think it gets the balance wrong,” he said.
Ellis said the estimated cost of a buyback scheme would be between $40 million and $90 million.
Labor leader Josh Willie urged members to seize the moment, calling it a once-in-a-generation opportunity to partner with the federal government on a buyback.
“Do you support unlimited guns in Tasmania or don’t you?” Labor member Brian Mitchell said during debate.
Butler read from a letter sent by a Port Arthur survivor urging members to support caps.
“Please listen to your medical colleagues and the Police Commissioner, who strongly urge a cap on gun ownership in Tasmania,” the letter read.
Greens member Tabatha Badger backed the amendment, saying caps were one tool among many to improve community safety.
Independent crossbencher George Razay, whose vote was seen as crucial, said he could not support the amendment.
“While I believe there is a merit in cap scheme, I don’t feel this amendment has found the right balance,” he said.
Independent Carlo Di Falco also voted against, saying no one had produced compelling evidence for the proposed numbers.
Peter George, another independent, supported the amendment, describing it as a sensible minimum rather than a hard cap.
The bill continues through the committee stage with further amendments still to be debated.
