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The Alannah & Madeline Foundation commends the Prime Minister, Premiers and Chief Ministers for agreeing to the need for a National Firearms Register.
It has been nearly 27 years since all jurisdictions agreed to a “nationwide registration of all firearms” as part of the National Firearms Agreement.
Foundation CEO, Sarah Davies AM said she welcomes the leadership shown by our National Patron, Prime Minister Albanese, and Premiers and Chief Ministers, for committing to a serious discussion about the creation of the National Firearms Register at National Cabinet today, following the Queensland shootings in December.
“Creating a national register of firearms is an important step in ensuring that all Australian jurisdictions comply with the National Firearms Agreement established in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy in 1996,” Ms Davies said.
“Currently there are eight separate systems managing firearms across our country making data sharing across jurisdictions difficult, reducing Police and law enforcement’s ability to protect themselves and our community effectively.”
“A National Firearms Register will enable a single source of information to be available to all law enforcement personnel around the country and will allow governments to make sound decisions in the public interest, based on a comprehensive data set.”
“We are thrilled that with the goodwill shown by all jurisdictions today, support from Police, the expectations of the community, along with the support of the firearms community, that we can work together to make it happen,” said Ms Davies.
The National Firearms Agreement was established in the wake of the Port Arthur tragedy in 1996 and was reconfirmed by all jurisdictions in 2017 – despite this, no jurisdiction is fully compliant.
Ms Davies said that Australians are immensely proud of our country’s strong stance on gun safety but members of the community are often surprised that despite all states and territories signing on to the National Firearms Agreement, still no jurisdiction is fully compliant.
“A key aspect of the National Firearms Agreement is the establishment of the National Firearms Register providing a single source of information across jurisdictions to assist Police to protect themselves and the community from gun violence.”
“We look forward to continuing to work with the Federal Government and all state and territory governments as well as law enforcement and the firearms community on the creation of the National Firearms Register and in ensuring that our gun laws remain responsible, safe and strong,” Ms Davies said.
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation is proud to be a founding member of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, and we stand alongside over 30 national organisations that share a commitment to community safety.
About the Alannah & Madeline Foundation
The Alannah & Madeline Foundation is a national not-for-profit organisation dedicated to keeping children and young people free from violence and trauma wherever they live, learn and play.
The Foundation was set up in memory of Alannah and Madeline Mikac, who were tragically killed alongside their mother and 32 others at Port Arthur in 1996. The Foundation continues to advocate for responsible, safe and strong Australian gun laws and to ensure that all Australian children and young people are safe and strong with the freedom to flourish.
The Foundation’s founder Walter Mikac AM was instrumental in calling on the then Prime Minister John Howard for gun reforms. This led to all Australian governments coming together to strengthen gun laws through the National Firearms Agreement which established a minimum set of requirements for the management of firearms in Australia. One of the requirements set out in the agreement was a “nationwide register of firearms”. Other reforms included the banning of automatic and semi-automatic guns and a national buyback of firearms.
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