Member for Burnett Stephen Bennett has called on ‘rat-shooting’ Police Minister Bill Byrne to come clean on his deliberate go-slow on handgun (Category H) licence renewals.
Mr Bennett said it was ironic the Palaszczuk Labor Police Minister, who had been forced to admit to using live rounds to shoot rats in his roof, was now making life hard for law-abiding landholders.
“It’s ridiculous to have a Minister with his background and behaviour lecturing farmers and graziers on his view of the world and why farmers don’t need handguns,” Mr Bennett said.
“Landholders in the Burnett region have legitimate and lawful needs to carry firearms, including handguns.
“There can be times when heavier, longer rifles will not be practical when on horseback or riding motorbikes – especially at the moment when vast areas of regional Queensland are in drought and having to humanely dispatch sick and starving livestock is, sadly, commonplace.”
Shadow Police Minister Tim Mander said Minister Byrne needed to come clean on what his real plans were and why farmers and graziers were getting the go-slow on licence renewals.
“I simply don’t believe Bill Byrne has undertaken any real consultation with graziers and landholders on this issue,” Mr Mander said.
“From his comments to Parliament, it appears he’s already formed a personal view that farmers shouldn’t have handguns. If this is the case, he needs to answer what facts his view based on, including what crimes are committed by licensed handgun owners who run and manage farms.
“If he or any of his senior police officers have concerns over licence renewals then those concerns need to be fully justifiable.
“Minister Byrne needs to be at arm’s length from any decision on licence renewals. He cannot play Minister and Magistrate.
“This looks very much like double-standards from a man who refuses to release details of the military record of investigations into his use, legitimate or otherwise, of firearms in his army home.”
[ENDS] 17 May 2016