The Katter Party has condemned the two major parties after they again teamed up to defeat what the KAP called “a common sense measure” on firearms for primary producers.
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They defeated a KAP motion which called for the parliament to support the rights of primary producers to own handguns.
“The Government has continued its attack on regional Queensland and the LNP has supported them. These city based politicians really have no understanding of what life is like west of Ipswich”, Mount Isa MP Robbie Katter said.
Mr Katter said Weapons Licencing were rejecting applications and renewals by primary producers who have legitimate reasons to own a handgun.
“This attitude does nothing to reduce risks to the public,” he said.
This attitude does nothing to reduce risks to the public
- Robbie Katter
“A farmer can still own a handgun to shoot at the pistol club in town but they can’t own one to use for their business. It makes no sense.”
However LNP Shadow Police Minister Tim Mander called the KAP motion “irresponsible and reckless”.
The LNP fundamentally support the rights of law abiding firearm owners and have continually raised issues with the inconsistent way that Category H licensing applications have been dealt with by Weapons Licensing Branch,” Mr Mander said. “However, the approach from KAP MPs had the potential to bring down the whole system and ruin it for all firearm owners”.
“It could have meant that any primary producer in Queensland had the right to own and use a Category H weapon without the need for licensing – that includes anyone with a violent criminal record - the very people we don’t want to have a firearm.
Mr Katter said under their proposal a licence was needed to apply for category H.
“The claims from the LNP that everyone would have access are ridiculous as there is a fit and proper person test to gain a licence in the first place,” he said. “Firearms on properties are vitally important to family safety, especially if you’re miles away from the house or being bailed up by a pack of wild dogs as happened to Katie Casey on her property near Hughenden recently.”