Legislation to give police new powers to get guns out of the hands of criminals and off the streets has been introduced into Parliament.
Minister for Police, Paul Papalia said central to the new legislation was a Firearm Prohibition Order Scheme, designed to target bikies and other serious organised crime figures.
“Under the Scheme, police will be able to ban anyone reasonably suspected of posing a threat to the community from holding a gun licence or from living in a house where guns are stored,” Mr Papalia said.
“Once a Firearm Prohibition Order (FPO) has been served on a person, police will have the power to stop and search that person and anyone in their company at any time, as well as enter their home, car or workplace at any time, to search for illegal guns,” he said.
Mr Papalia said anyone found to be in breach of an FPO could face jail terms of up to 14 years and fines of up to $75,000.
“Along with the new police powers, penalties are also increasing for anyone involved in drive-by shootings or discharging a firearm at a house or building,” he said.
“Maximum jail terms for unlawfully discharging a firearm in public to cause fear will be lifted from three to seven years, with fines increasing to $36,000.
“Jail terms for anyone caught in unlawful possession of a firearm will also double from three years to seven years.”
The Minister said the maximum fine for the same offence would increase threefold from $12,000 to $36,000.
“The proposed amendments will also make it illegal to manufacture plastic 3D firearms, with anyone caught facing a maximum 14 years in jail,” he said.
“On top of the Government’s anti-consorting legislation, we are giving our police further tools they need to disrupt the activities of bikies and organised syndicates.”
Mr Papalia said FPOs had worked effectively in other jurisdictions around Australia and were squarely aimed at sending a strong message to those involved in gun crime and the illegal gun trade.
