Penny Wong (SA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

I suppose the truth hurts, Senator Williams. This bitter division on guns and this weakness of leadership and the division inside the government, which was played out so clearly on the floor of both the House and the Senate through that time has very real consequences. We have a government that is much more focused on internal division and on playing political games than on good, strong and effective policy. In fact, on this government's watch, a record number of weapons have flooded into the illicit market. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission estimates that 10,000 of the guns in the illicit market are handguns—the weapon of choice for gangs and criminals.

We can and must do more to stop guns flowing into the illicit market, whether it be through illegal importation, theft or other methods. And we can and must do more to find these guns and stop them being trafficked across state boundaries. The reintroduction of the ineffective measures that are set out in this bill, for a third time, is not amongst the appropriate responses. It is just an attempt to distract from the fact that we see a government still divided on guns.

The opposition has also circulated an amendment to introduce new aggravated firearms trafficking offences, with a maximum penalty of life in prison. I propose to expand on the detail of the amendment in the committee debate rather than in the second reading debate. Labor believe that the amendments we propose, comprising tough new aggravated offences, alongside the higher maximum penalty for the basic firearms trafficking offences in the bill, which we support, will send a clear message that gun trafficking is as serious as drug trafficking and will attract the same severe penalties.

We all saw the government's real commitment to gun control last year, when it was prepared, extraordinarily, to trade guns for votes and water down Australia's gun laws. The opposition had sincerely hoped that the government's approach to our gun laws could have improved this year. Unfortunately, it does not appear to have been the case. That is a disappointment to all Australians who want to see effective action taken against gun crime.

The opposition will continue to fight for tough gun laws. While the Turnbull government reheats failed Abbott government proposals, we are putting forward strong and sensible measures that will actually contribute to the fight against firearms trafficking. I commend the opposition amendments, to be moved in the Committee of the Whole. I would encourage the government to approach this area of policy not with tired political games but with a sensible approach to ensure that we do in fact make our community safer.