Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Hansard source

Thank you, Senator O'Neill. It is important that Australians have accurate information about what the gun laws the government is proposing will actually do rather than all sorts of furphies that are being propagated by people who don't support these laws to justify voting against them. Let me begin by saying that, if you have a legitimate reason to own a gun, these changes are not about you. But, of course, that hasn't stopped those opposite peddling their misinformation about what these reforms are about.

Our reforms are not a blanket ban on firearms. Our reforms will not stop Australian athletes from competing internationally or accessing the equipment they need. Our reforms will not stop those with a genuine need, such as feral-pest controllers and sporting shooters, from obtaining a firearm. Our reforms will not stop Australian farmers and primary producers from being able to perform their daily tasks. People with a genuine, legitimate reason to own a firearm, like primary producers, feral-pest controllers and sporting shooters, will still be able to— (Time expired)