Tasmania is now refusing to recognise interstate firearms licences being used for hunting activities in the state.
Tasmania Police and the state Department of Natural Resources & Environment (DNRE) have confirmed that the state’s Firearms Act only allows recognition of interstate or overseas firearms licences for competition shooting activities, and not for hunting purposes.
Until recently, there was a Tasmania Police exemption in place which allowed licensed hunters from the mainland and overseas to legally possess and use firearms in Tasmania, but that exemption, and others (including the one relating to antique firearms) was recently revoked.
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party Tasmania spokesman Adrian Pickin said the move was placing the state’s multi-million dollar outdoor tourism sector at risk, and would be particularly devastating for regional Tasmania.
“This ruling threatens a vital component of Tasmania’s tourism industry, impacting businesses, farmers and communities, particularly on King and Flinders Islands, where hunting tourism plays an important role in supporting local economies,” he said.
Mr Pickin said if that wasn’t bad enough, Game Licences were still being sold to interstate and overseas hunters, who had no idea of the restrictions.
“This situation creates confusion, jeopardises longstanding animal control efforts on private and public land, and undermines Tasmania’s reputation as a premier hunting tourism destination,” he said.
Until now, Western Australia was the only state which denied mutual recognition of interstate firearms licences.
Shooters Union Tasmania president Philip Bigg said the situation was yet another example of Tasmania Police making life difficult for licensed shooters, and that it was time for an overhaul of the Firearms Act to bring it into line with most other Australian states.
“I can’t believe we’re still having to fight this battle,” he said.
“[Police Minister] Felix Ellis should know better, but this is just his advisors doing the work.
“Commissioner [Donna] Adams is just not accepting any liability and canning anything that’s not in the Firearms Act — so the only way to fix this is with legislation.”
0 Comments