Labor leader Josh Willie has announced his party will pursue limits on firearm ownership, proposing a cap of five guns for recreational hunters and 10 for primary producers and sports shooters.
Willie made the announcement on Thursday during his reply to Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s state of the state address.
He said Tasmania now had more firearms than at the time of Port Arthur and the highest number per capita in the nation.
“Tasmania should not be an outlier on these national reforms because this Liberal government lacks the courage to act,” Willie said.
“Under my leadership, Labor will be strong on this. At the same time, we recognise the legitimate needs of farmers, sports shooters and responsible firearms users.”
Greens MP Tabatha Badger welcomed the policy, noting her party had been advocating for similar measures.
“Too often in the past we’ve seen the Labor party criticising the government for their actions, but not proposing or fighting for any solutions,” she said.
“It’s great to see a sign that might be starting to change.”
More on this story: TasFarmers accuses Labor of ‘betraying’ regional communities over gun limits
The firearms announcement came as part of a broader speech in which Willie attacked the 12-year-old Liberal government as being in “survival mode”.
He tore into the government’s plan to rebrand the Department of State Growth as Building Tasmania.
“Tasmanians can’t pay their rent with an organisational chart,” Willie said. “Building Tasmania is building nothing.”
Willie also highlighted Labor’s early education policy, promising five days of kindergarten and universal preschool access for three-year-olds.
Deputy Premier Guy Barnett accused Willie of “relentless negativity” in his first state of the state response.
“Labor opposes Building Tasmania’s future. Opposes building the homes Tasmanians deserve. Opposes building the hospitals Tasmanians need,” Barnett said.
Willie used the speech to position Labor as an alternative government rather than simply an opposition.
“We will be more than just the party that holds this government to account,” he said.
“We will outline a different future for Tasmanians. We will give Tasmanians something to vote for. Something they want us to deliver.”
