Western Australia Police Minister Paul Papalia has announced a second firearms buyback, this time for the state’s firearm dealers to offload the excess stock they now hold because of new laws limiting how many guns shooters in the state can own.
According to the official media release, until 17 January 2025 dealers can hand in firearms to WAPOL for up to $1000 each, “depending on factors like the type, style, calibre and age of each weapon”.
There is currently no information on what WAPOL will actually be paying for guns, but it’s a safe bet no one is getting $1000 for an old single-barrel .410 shotgun.
The new buyback comes on the back of the previous one, which shooters were told would absolutely not be extended.
The first buyback resulted in more than 40,000 guns being handed in for paltry sums, before many of the guns were blown up in a PR stunt.
Mr Papalia said the licensed dealer gun buyback “provides an opportunity for the industry to hand in their weapons before our tough new firearm laws come into effect”.
“Almost 40,000 guns were handed back to police as part of our voluntary gun buyback program and we anticipate thousands of additional guns to be offloaded by licensed dealers in the coming months.”
It is understood there had been no discussion with industry prior to the announcement, a repeat of the Labor Government’s previous lack of consultation.
The Western Australia Firearms Traders Association (WAFTA) saying they found out about the announcement in that morning’s newspaper.
While the base Firearms Act legislation has passed in WA, the associated regulations have not been made publicly available so there are countless unanswered questions about how the new laws will actually function.
The situation is further complicated by the limited number of sitting days (six) left in the current parliamentary calendar, with the Cook Government expected to go into caretaker mode from 5 February 2025 ahead of the state election on 25 March.
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