WA Police Minister ignores petition calling for more consultation on controversial gun law reforms

Nearly 13,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Cook Government to extend public consultation on its controversial gun law reforms, but Police Minister Paul Papalia is refusing to budge. The e-petition was tabled in State Parliament on November 15, nearly three weeks after the WA Nationals launched it on behalf of the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia. It called for a two-month extension on the November 14 deadline set for public feedback on key proposed changes to WA’s 50-year-old Firearms Act. The changes were outlined in a consultation paper released less than a month earlier, sparking concerns more time was needed to properly scrutinise the 62-page document. Nationals MLC Colin de Grussa said the “staggering” 12,673 signatures gathered showed the community was frustrated with the “flawed consultation process”. “More than 12,000 signatures on this petition reflects the urgent need for the arrogant Cook Labor Government to extend the consultation period and actually listen to the community,” Mr de Grussa said. “It is now in the Government’s hands to act in good faith and respect the calls of thousands of West Australians, rather than continue their legacy of not listening to the community.” Mr de Grussa — who is the shadow agriculture minister — previously raised concerns that farmers in the middle of harvest were too busy to provide feedback on the proposed reforms, which are set to be introduced to Parliament early next year. His comments were echoed by industry leaders including Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president Tony Seabrook, as well as Opposition Leader Shane Love, who said a more “realistic” time frame was needed. “Thousands of West Australians are standing united and demanding the Cook Labor Government show them some respect by taking community consultation seriously,” Mr Love said. “Now, despite thousands of West Australians backing the Nationals’ call, Minister Papalia has rejected an extension.” Earlier this month, Mr Papalia’s office told Countryman there was no plan to extend the consultation deadline. At the time, Mr Papalia said the consultation paper was but “one further opportunity to comment on the proposed laws” after more than two years of consultation that included more than 100 meetings and workshops. A spokesman for Mr Papalia this week said the minister had “nothing further” to add. The petition was tabled on the same day the Cook Government introduced a Bill to officially repeal its disastrous Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, which was scrapped just weeks after coming into effect on July 1. The Cook Government made the spectacular backflip after initially ignoring a record-breaking e-petition that amassed nearly 30,000 signatures in a fortnight.