Firearms Testing
Ms LEE RHIANNON [5.31 p.m.]: Testing of firearms knowledge and safety is in the hands of shooting organisations in many States. In New South Wales the two key organisations are the New South Wales Firearm Safety and Training Council Ltd [NFSTC] and the New South Wales Shooting Association Ltd [NSA]. The Chair of the NSA is Alex Comino while the Chair of the NFSTC, Charles Copeman, former chief executive of resources giant Peko Wallsend, is a close associate of the Prime Minister. I understand that Mr Copeman does not hold a shooters licence. The NFSTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NSA, which received $600,000 when Mr Ted Pickering was Minister for Police.
Parliament House, Sydney
Lee has been concerned for some time about the monitoring of firearms use and licensing in New South Wales. She put her concerns on the record in this speech to Parliament on March 11, 2004
Ms LEE RHIANNON [5.31 p.m.]: Testing of firearms knowledge and safety is in the hands of shooting organisations in many States. In New South Wales the two key organisations are the New South Wales Firearm Safety and Training Council Ltd [NFSTC] and the New South Wales Shooting Association Ltd [NSA]. The Chair of the NSA is Alex Comino while the Chair of the NFSTC, Charles Copeman, former chief executive of resources giant Peko Wallsend, is a close associate of the Prime Minister. I understand that Mr Copeman does not hold a shooters licence. The NFSTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NSA, which received $600,000 when Mr Ted Pickering was Minister for Police.
Mr Pickering and the NSA set up a watertight contract and NFSTC was the body awarded the contract that had been negotiated with Mr Pickering to carry out the testing. The contract was signed off in 1991 and runs until 2006, that is, 15 years. Both NFSTC and NSA are private companies. NFSTC is an umbrella body but most shooting associations are no longer affiliated. It costs $77 to undertake a test in New South Wales-$20 remains with the club where the test is organised and held, $50 is paid to the New South Wales Shooting Association Ltd and $7 is paid in GST. The New South Wales Government receives none of this money.
Although it is not known how many people take the test each year, we do know the number of people who have a licence to own a firearm. In 2002-03 at least 9,500 received their first licence, which means that 9,500 safety certificates were issued. In previous years the number of first licences that were issued varied between 10,000 and 15,000. These figures give us an idea of how much money is being raised. In 2002-03 the NFSTC received revenue from 9,500 safety certificates at $50 per certificate, totalling $475,000. Over the years since the contract was signed in 1991, millions of dollars have been raised for the NFSTC. It is not possible to get a copy of the contract or learn the terms of the contract. There is no public record of where this money goes or the total amount of the money. There is no record of any money going to any shooting club.
I understand that when Mr Whelan was Minister for Police he had legal people look into the matter but could do nothing about the contract. The Government cannot break the contract. I asked the present Minister for Police, John Watkins, whether the Government is aware of the qualifications required for gun instructors to work for the Firearms Safety Awareness Council. The Government did not know. The Minister said, "This is a matter for the Firearms Safety Awareness Council." It appears that the Government does not care about the procedures and practices of the Firearms Safety Awareness Council, and that is not good enough. The public has a right to know whether the Firearms Safety Awareness Council is ensuring that we are protected from unsafe gun users.
Testing should not be the responsibility of these organisations but should be carried out by a government instrumentality. The current testing regime is bankrupt, not just because of the secretive nature of the contract but because an applicant who fails the test can immediately sit for it again. I understand that many shooting clubs and associations are angry about the current arrangements and that they do not receive any of the money. Some believe that the Government should control any testing regime. The Greens agree with that sentiment.
Lee has been concerned for some time about the monitoring of firearms use and licensing in New South Wales. She put her concerns on the record in this speech to Parliament on March 11, 2004
Ms LEE RHIANNON [5.31 p.m.]: Testing of firearms knowledge and safety is in the hands of shooting organisations in many States. In New South Wales the two key organisations are the New South Wales Firearm Safety and Training Council Ltd [NFSTC] and the New South Wales Shooting Association Ltd [NSA]. The Chair of the NSA is Alex Comino while the Chair of the NFSTC, Charles Copeman, former chief executive of resources giant Peko Wallsend, is a close associate of the Prime Minister. I understand that Mr Copeman does not hold a shooters licence. The NFSTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the NSA, which received $600,000 when Mr Ted Pickering was Minister for Police.
Mr Pickering and the NSA set up a watertight contract and NFSTC was the body awarded the contract that had been negotiated with Mr Pickering to carry out the testing. The contract was signed off in 1991 and runs until 2006, that is, 15 years. Both NFSTC and NSA are private companies. NFSTC is an umbrella body but most shooting associations are no longer affiliated. It costs $77 to undertake a test in New South Wales-$20 remains with the club where the test is organised and held, $50 is paid to the New South Wales Shooting Association Ltd and $7 is paid in GST. The New South Wales Government receives none of this money.
Although it is not known how many people take the test each year, we do know the number of people who have a licence to own a firearm. In 2002-03 at least 9,500 received their first licence, which means that 9,500 safety certificates were issued. In previous years the number of first licences that were issued varied between 10,000 and 15,000. These figures give us an idea of how much money is being raised. In 2002-03 the NFSTC received revenue from 9,500 safety certificates at $50 per certificate, totalling $475,000. Over the years since the contract was signed in 1991, millions of dollars have been raised for the NFSTC. It is not possible to get a copy of the contract or learn the terms of the contract. There is no public record of where this money goes or the total amount of the money. There is no record of any money going to any shooting club.
I understand that when Mr Whelan was Minister for Police he had legal people look into the matter but could do nothing about the contract. The Government cannot break the contract. I asked the present Minister for Police, John Watkins, whether the Government is aware of the qualifications required for gun instructors to work for the Firearms Safety Awareness Council. The Government did not know. The Minister said, "This is a matter for the Firearms Safety Awareness Council." It appears that the Government does not care about the procedures and practices of the Firearms Safety Awareness Council, and that is not good enough. The public has a right to know whether the Firearms Safety Awareness Council is ensuring that we are protected from unsafe gun users.
Testing should not be the responsibility of these organisations but should be carried out by a government instrumentality. The current testing regime is bankrupt, not just because of the secretive nature of the contract but because an applicant who fails the test can immediately sit for it again. I understand that many shooting clubs and associations are angry about the current arrangements and that they do not receive any of the money. Some believe that the Government should control any testing regime. The Greens agree with that sentiment.
