Fraser Anning (Queensland, Katter's Australian Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

  (i) the recent spate of horrific violent crimes against women,

  (ii) that the first duty of government is to ensure that its innocent citizens are protected from harm,

  (iii) that police cannot be everywhere at all times, so in order to ensure citizens are protected from harm, all citizens must have the absolute right to self-defence,

  (iv) that the ability of individuals to defend themselves varies with the strength, age, fitness and skill of the individual, with women and the elderly generally more vulnerable,

  (v) that vulnerable people need some form of defence against violent individuals of superior strength,

  (vi) the non-lethal nature of pepper spray, mace and tasers and the fact that prior training or skill is not required to use them for self-defence, and

  (vii) the ease, affordability and convenience of pepper spray, mace and tasers as a means of self-defence by women;

(b) accepts that access to a means of self-protection by women in particular would provide greatly increased security and confidence that they will not become just another assault, rape or murder statistic; and

(c) calls on the Australian Government:

  (i) to allow the importation of pepper spray, mace and tasers for individual self-defence, and

  (ii) to encourage state governments to legalise and actively promote the carrying of pepper spray, mace and tasers by women for political protection.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Australian government has no intention of relaxing restrictions on the importation of antipersonnel sprays. The importation of firearms and other weapons, including antipersonnel sprays, into Australia is controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. Permission to import weapons, including antipersonnel sprays, must be obtained prior to the importation of the goods. To obtain permission to import weapons, including antipersonnel sprays, importers must satisfy a number of legislative requirements, including an official purpose test, a public interest test and a national interest test.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Janet Rice (Victoria, Australian Greens) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The Greens oppose this ill-conceived, blundering and harmful motion. If Senator Anning really wants the government to ensure that innocent citizens are protected from harm, might I suggest that he focus his attention on interventions that prevent men's violence. The last thing that women in Australia need now is another man in power telling us that we are responsible for violence against us. Senator Anning's motion puts the onus on women to go to extreme lengths to ensure our safety, when the priority must be to eradicate men's violence. That's where the problem is. That's where the responsibility lies. That's where government interventions need to be focused.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anthony Chisholm (Queensland, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Labor does not support this motion. We always condemn violence against women in the strongest possible terms. Ending violence against women is a national priority, and Labor is committed to action. Women have a right to safety in public spaces and in their homes, but it is ludicrous to suggest that more weapons will make women safer. Allowing ordinary people to walk around with tasers in their pockets won't improve safety on our streets. More weapons imported into Australia and made cheap and easy to access will only make it easier for people who want to do harm to do so.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion moved by Senator Anning be agreed to.