Eric Abetz (Tasmania, Liberal Party, Shadow Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

asked the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, upon notice, on 8 November 2012:

(1) During the period after Mr Jason Clare's appointment as Minister in December 2011 until 8 August 2012: (a) how many recommendations or proposals did the Commonwealth Firearms Advisory Council (CFAC) make; and (b) to how many of these recommendations or proposals did the Minister respond.

(2) Did the Minister have any difficulty receiving the minutes of CFAC.

(3) Up to 8 August 2012: (a) when did the Minister meet with CFAC; (b) how many requests did the Chair of CFAC make to meet or speak with the Minister; and (c) when did the Minister meet with the Chair of CFAC.

(4) On 8 August 2012, did the CFAC Chair, Mr Pete Steedman, write to the Minister stating that, 'The Council wishes to convey its disappointment that, at the time of writing, there is nothing to suggest that the Council's resolutions have been or will be incorporated into legislation or regulations. As outlined in earlier correspondence to you, this has generated considerable concern among the Council. The Council also expressed its disappointment that you have not met or engaged with any members of Council, nor acknowledged receipt of any written communications from the Chairman on behalf of Council'; if so, to whom was the letter copied.

(5) Was Mr Steedman's letter to the Minister received via the CFAC secretariat.

(6) Did CFAC resolve not to meet or conduct any further business until the Minister confirmed his intention to refer matters to, and utilise the services of, CFAC and did Mr Steedman also convey this in his letter.

(7) Up to 8 August 2012, what statements about firearms management did the Minister make without consultation with the firearms community.

(8) Has the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister's office or the Attorney General made any comment to the Minister about the above issues; if so, what were the comments.

Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Minister for Home Affairs and Justice has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

In relation to question 1:

(a) CFAC made five recommendations or proposals on the operation of the firearms importation regime or firearms issues relating to areas of Commonwealth responsibility during the specified period.

(b) One of the recommendations has been included in a consultation paper prepared by the Attorney-General ' s Department. The public consultation period ended on 14 December 2012.

The next step will be to release draft regulations for public comment.

In relation to remaining questions the Minister and members of his staff met several times with members of CFAC as well as two formal meetings with the Council, on 22 October 2012 and 30 November 2012. During these meetings, a number of communication issues were raised, discussed and resolved. CFAC has provided further advice to Government on various firearms policy issues and is currently reviewing a consultation paper setting out various proposed amendments to the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 .