Gun News Australia: the latest news for Aussie shooters

NATIONAL GUN CONFERENCE: We need six eminent panel members

THE 2024 NATIONAL GUN CONFERENCE proved how important and useful it can be to have key industry leaders work together and agree on a way forward to help the broader shooting community work to fix the stark political problems we face.
The outcome was so promising, that the result of the conference set up the agenda for the next conference.  Then we had the additional lessons come out of WA.
Check out this excellent summary of what came out of the conference: https://youtu.be/ByiP_Kb4h7c
HOWEVER, a roadblock to doing this is the fact most organisations were simply never set up to take on political fights. 
They mostly exist to run ranges and events, which is fine – but it makes it hard, if not impossible, for them to join the fight.
It means that the people we need to hear from, are often held back by others on their executives who are less comfortable going outside of what they do. That’s fine – but the political problems we face keep growing, which has to stop.
AT THE SAME TIME, there remains a lot of people in the shooting community who have the expertise we need without those encumbrances - who we need to hear from.
That’s why the planning committee has taken the decision to set up a panel of firearm policy experts to drive the next conference.
With their help, we aim to help the broader shooting community understand what our challenges look like, what can be done about it – and bring around the changes we need to see.
IN THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA, we look at this in more depth – and put the call out to hear from those who can bring their critical knowledge and experiences to the table, as we plan for the next conference.
Whoever those people may be, they need to have strong backgrounds and experience in government policy and in the political processes that define the environment we’re in.
MAKE NO MISTAKE about it.  The NGC is the only forum that exists that seeks to engage with the broader shooting sector to get key information on what we can do to address our problems, to every single shooter.
--------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASES! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------

BUY A SPARE SAFE: WAPol’s crazy new house moving tip

DAMON MATTHEWS is butcher in regional WA of 35 years who uses firearms in his work.
He also helps locals dispatch other animals where they may be unable to do that themselves.
When he recently moved house, police turned up as he was moving his firearms and ammunition – and promptly took them off him because they were, in their view, ‘unsecured’.   
AS DAMON EXPLAINS, the police take the view that Damon needed to buy a second safe, have that installed, then move everything into the new safe before moving the old one.
In what is clearly a ridiculous and vexatious move, this has left Damon without his key tools of trade, and a legal fight which will go to court in mid-August.
Damon also explains that with around 300 clients, he will need around 1,000 property letters, as many farmers and others have more than one property.  
This, in an environment, when registering on WAPol’s portal is almost impossible to do and where property owners are simply turning away from being prepared to provide property letters because of the complexities now in place.   
Damon has an important tip that WAPol should take up to fix that – if it’s interested in treating shooters like customers.
WA needs to introduce a new registration plate logo: The State of Red Tape.
THE CURRENT SITUATION leaves his area without a butcher who can do his work, property owners who may have sick animals that the police, councils and rangers either can’t or won’t help out with, which is a cruel new policy of the Cook Government.
This is a story that the Western Australian Parliamentary Standing Committee on Legislation that is currently reviewing the new legislation needs to hear.
------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASES! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------

TASMANIA: How the Liberals "conned shooters"

THEY CONNED SHOOTERS IN 2018 & 2024 by reneging on promises to help firearm users, but the Tasmanian Liberal Party has done nothing but try to dump more red tape on shooters ever since.
TASMANIA’S fifth election in eleven years will be held on July 19th.  The Liberals, who are desperate to hang onto government after losing its premier in a no-confidence motion, will be equally desperate to convince shooters that voting for them is the way to go.
IN THIS EPISODE of Gun News Australia, we speak with a face who will be very familiar with GNA viewers, Phillip Bigg, Independent Candidate for Lyons, about the issues facing shooters.  
Not just at this election, but for the next 20 years as Tasmanian shooters aim to regain lost ground.
Phillip talks about Tasmania’s Police Minister, Felix Ellis, refusal to engage in sensible debate and discussion with that state’s shooting community after the appalling way the Tasmanian Liberals broke promises and have now made the licensing application and renewal processes more complicated than they need to be.
In the lead up to the interview, Phillip put key questions to Ellis, seeking his response by 29 June.  Ellis failed to respond, which tell us whose side he’s on (or not on).
WE also talk about suppressors and the perception that dogs the issue. That’s because many politicians think that what they see in the movies is the truth, without being remotely prepared to consider why that may not be the case.
Major shooting organisations provided letters of support for Phillip’s proposal to hold a ‘demonstration’ for politicians.  Unfortunately, SSAA Tasmania refused to join them.
IMPORTANTLY, Phillip has committed to, if elected, introducing a bill into parliament to fix the key issues that the current Liberal Government won’t.
Our message to other shooting organisations is even if you prefer not to get involved in politics, this is a time when what you do – or don’t do – will affect the future of your sport.  That’s because sitting down and doing nothing will simply let the political attacks continue.
That’s why we recommend shooting organisations realise the position they’re in and (quickly) get behind Phillip Bigg, as the election approaches.

WA REVIEW – SUBMISSIONS NOW OPEN! Here’s what you need to know

JULY 4 is the deadline for shooters and others who wish to make a submission to the WA Firearms Review.
We take you through where to find about the review and the process for making a submission.
PLUS we take you through what we have submitted.
You can find out about the review at:
https://www.parliament.wa.gov.au/Parliament/commit.nsf/WCurrentNameNew/100B093DBC8DCE5A48257831003B03A5?OpenDocument#current
…and send your submission to:
Standing Committee on LegislationParliament House4 Harvest TceWest Perth WA 6005
Ph: 08 9222 7386
Email: lclc@parliament.wa.gov.au
--------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASES! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------

AUSSIE CONSTITUTIONAL GUN OWNERSHIP: NSW Upper House MP ignites a war on the major parties

NSW MP JOHN RUDDICK MLC has tabled a pro-gun motion in that state’s upper house that is set to ignite a broader debate over whether people should be subservient to their government, or vice versa in meeting the needs of the people.
It’s a philosophy that has seen the US grow into the great nation it is today - by promoting rights and creativity - while Australia has gone in the other direction.
John’s journey in politics isn’t accidental. Starting as a staffer in the Howard Government, John soon realised that the government’s approach to guns – and freedoms generally – was wrong.
In his words, his approach hasn’t been to incrementally defending firearm ownership, but to ‘go on the attack’ against those who oppose firearm ownership.
The facts John presents are irrefutable – but whether that is enough to persuade the major parties to at least listen and engage in a mature debate remains to be seen.
Unfortunately, the track record of the major parties suggest they will not, but we see this as a really healthy and welcome debate to start.
The motion may be about guns (and whether or not you agree with the specific motion), but it’s just one example of where this debate can go. This is going to be an entertaining and illustrative debate that kicks off in the next month or so.
Even YouTuber, TopherField, went from supporting Howard’s position on guns, to opposing it.
--------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASE! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------

GUN REVIEW SUBMISSIONS START SOON: Key WA Liberal Party MPs talk about the motion they supported

WE SPEAK with WA Liberal Party MPs Nick Goiran and Phil Twiss about the motion to review WA’s firearm legislation that recently passed parliament with the support of other minor parties – and even embarrassing Labor into not opposing it.
It was a masterstroke.
Nick and Phil take us through the lead up to the actions that they have been able to take including the impact of the petition that Nick tabled, and the pathway forward for the motion.
Importantly, Nick tells us that we can expect the Standing Committee on Legislation will produce its report in around 3 months’ time and start taking submissions within the next few days.
We also talk about the range templates that are closing clubs down, the impact on the disabled, and the irony of WA being a signatory to the National Firearms Agreement when it has gone in its own, vindictive, direction.
REMEMBER, if you’re in WA, make your view about the new gun laws CLEAR to your local MP.  Be polite, but blunt about just how wrong the laws are, and why you want to see this review result in the changes you want to see.
--------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASE! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------

GUN REVIEW WIN: WA's minor parties revolt against that state's new gun laws

WA’S MINOR PARTIES - including our traditional enemies of the Greens and Animal Justice Party – have banded together to back a parliamentary motion to review Labor's atrocious new Firearms Act.
The stunning move follows the successful moving of a motion to enable the WA Upper House to ‘review’ the WA Firearms Act, by the Liberal Party’s Nick Goiran, after securing 21 votes to beat Labor’s 16.
It follows a conversation where Nick is said to have described Labor’s approach as ‘grubby’.
IN OUR LATEST EPISODE, we speak with Ralph Folie, President of WA’s peak body, the Western Australian Shooting Association, about how that state’s shooting organisations banded together to present their case to help get the motion up.
We also discuss just how far apart WA is from the very same National Firearms Agreement they signed, and which the government regularly quotes as its reference point. That’s a claim by the government that is a straight out lie.
Find out more about the WA Shooting Association at: https://www.washooting.org/
--------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASE! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------

NEW GUN RIGHTS PUSH: WA shooters get the news they’ve been waiting for

WA SHOOTERS finally get some great news.
The newly based WA Recreational Association – Fight for Rights underplays what it means for the long-suffering shooters of WA who are now suffering under the worst gun laws of any state or territory.
IN THIS EPISODE, we dig deeper into what the organisation – which is in the process of changing its name – will actually mean for shooters.
What we’ve seen strongly suggests that it is going to roll up its sleeves and take both political parties head on when it comes to good and bad policy affecting shooters.
It is, in our view, the first state-based shooters’ rights group – which means it is well placed to speak for every one of the state’s 90,000 licensed shooters.  It means that shooters who were disappointed that Labor didn’t get the boot, will be able to continue the fight from now until the next state election in 2029.
THE GROUP needs to raise $250k to pass the “Go / No Go” point, with nearly $100k already raised. If they don’t get to that point, then donations will be refunded, so this is an endeavour that carries no risk for shooters.
THAT’S WHY we’re encouraging shooters regardless of where they are, to jump in and back the new organisation. 
Among those behind the organisation are Steve Harrison, who is SUA WA’s rep who helped organise the WA Gun Rally, former MLC Louise Kingston, and Mark Else from the MarkandSam podcast.
... and we were amused by the ukulele playing Yank called "Toad" (all will be explained in the video!)
TO DONATE to the cause, simply go to: https://www.gofundme.com/develop-a-new-wa-recreation-association-fight-for-rights
WE ALSO look at the new process for getting permits to acquire in Queensland. That state is drifting towards the “genuine need” approach, which is how the WA problems started.
--------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASE! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------

REGISTRY SMOKESCREEN: We probe the gun policy discussions at national level

AFTER NEARLY A YEAR of battling bureaucracy, Politics Reloaded is on the verge of uncovering what new gun laws and policies our nation’s firearm registry managers are pushing for.
We dive into the federal government’s Firearms and Weapons Policy Working Group which has historically resisted attempts by shooting organisations to find out what this group, which includes all our registries, is advising government.
The secrecy is unprecedented. Your tax dollars are going to this group that publishes no minutes, publishes no agendas and does not invite the very sector (the shooting sector) that it affects.
That’s why we’ve put in several Freedom of Information (FOI) requests
The NSW Police has refused our request, saying that the documents could compromise the effectiveness of the police force's functions, such as investigating and preventing crime.
They argued that they had to avoid releasing the documents to “stay one step ahead of criminals”.  ... but we never asked for that information.  We asked for documents that pertained to policy discussions.  This was a blatant attempt by NSW Police to throw up a smokescreen – that we saw through.
That’s why we’ve lodged an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commission of NSW  to enable shooters to access and question the rationale behind firearm regulations and hold policymakers accountable for their actions. 
Examples of what our registries have done in recent times include the recent ammo attack in the Northern Territory, calibre attack Queensland, crazy new application form in Tasmania, and unexplained reclassifications in Victoria.
--------------------------------------------------------------
GET EARLY RELEASE! Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------

GUNS & DOUGHNUTS: Check out the store every shooter wants to go to!

A GUN SHOP that also sells doughnuts would grab the attention of any shooter!We look at a hardware shop in Clare, Michigan US, north-west of Detroit, which does just that.  The Ace Hardware store sells around 50 to 60 dozen doughnuts and other pastries every day. It’s a profitable move which helps keep the doors open in a unique model in a town with a population of just over 3,300.
We were also drawn by one comment online that said:“If you tell me you make the holes in the donuts by any other means than shooting it, I’m gonna be extremely disappointed”IN THIS SHORT EPISODE, we also look at the new WA mental and physical health checks – which are just as invasive as feared. 
You can see them at: https://www.wa.gov.au/system/files/2025-03/firearm-authority-health-assessment.pdf
PLUS we catch-up on the legal action being taken by Politics Reloaded on the 5-gun limit, and how shooters can support it (see http://tinyurl.com/5limitcase).
We also put the call out for WA shooters who are affected by the new Digital ID requirements.
If you’ve been affected by them, please let us know: our legal case is ready to run but we need a ‘lead applicant’.
… AND “BEEP-BEEP”. The Road Runner seems to have nicked off with shooters’ money.
--------------------------------------------------------------
LIKE THIS VIDEO? Join our Patreon channel and you’ll get our episodes before they are released more widely!  You can join the channel at: JOIN our Patreon channel, simply go to patreon.com/PoliticsReloaded
--------------------------------------------------------------
GUN NEWS AUSTRALIA is brought to you by Politics Reloaded and Gun Traders Australia 
---------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN / DONATE NOW – strength in numbers
You can back what we're doing by becoming a subscriber for just $30 a year at: https://politicsreloaded.com/join-us/; or donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/
 ---------------------------------------------------------------
EMAIL LIST – don’t miss the news!
Finally, for regular updates, hop onto our email list:https://politicsreloaded.com/email-list/
---------------------------------------------------------------