Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

I rise in support of the member for Mackellar's very sensible amendments, notwithstanding what the Minister for Home Affairs has just said, because closing a knowledge and evidence gap in our national gun laws is absolutely critical. The prevailing question from people in my electorate, in relation to killers such as those who perpetrated the horrors in Bondi, is: how can one of them have been a registered gun owner? It speaks to the critical elements in the legislation that I've just voted for, around bridging these evidence gaps, closing the problems that we have and assessing who is out there trying to get their hands on guns.

These laws aren't about law-abiding gun owners, many of whom live in my electorate and many of whom have written to me about their concerns around these laws. These are people in my electorate who, indeed, are trying to manage pests on farms and national parks, who are tragically having to euthanise sheep and cattle, or who are sporting shooters. But the key point they make to me, which I have listened to so carefully, is that every gap that we possibly have that allows people with criminal intent to get their hands on guns must be closed. So I support legislation which does that. I support what the member for Mackellar is trying to do.

I want to put on the record that the truncated debate that we have had this morning in regard to such important laws as these is really frustrating for us as legislators. As a member of parliament from a regional area who could not get on the speaking list, I welcome the opportunity to speak to the member for Mackellar's amendments, which I think are sensible ones. I welcome the government working on this council. I want to see that succeed, because ultimately I want guns in this country to be used for the purposes for which they are intended, with law-abiding citizens using them as a tool of trade or for sporting intent with complete safety.

Question negatived.

Bill agreed to.

See this speech in context