Queensland refuses to back Albanese’s gun buyback scheme

1 month ago 18

Queensland will not back the Albanese government’s national gun buyback scheme, landing another blow to the Prime Minister’s proposed suite of reforms to be rushed through parliament in response to last month’s Bondi Beach terror attack.

Premier David Crisafulli’s cabinet resolved on Monday to introduce new laws when state parliament resumes next month in response to the anti-Semitic attack, though it is not yet clear what this suite of measures will include.

This masthead was told, however, the LNP government had agreed it would not support the federal buyback scheme, and would instead consider measures presented to cabinet by state Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and Police Minister Dan Purdie.

“We will continue to calmly and methodically work through these complex issues to ensure we get this response right,” a government spokesman said after cabinet had concluded on Monday.

“We also must never be distracted from the core issue of antisemitism and, as a state, we must continue to stand up to the formidable antisemitic forces that were unleashed on Bondi.

“The cabinet process is underway and cabinet has resolved to introduce legislation during the first parliamentary sitting week of the year.”

The Crisafulli government’s refusal to back Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s national buyback came a day before federal Labor was expected to introduce a bill featuring new powers for the scheme along with gun importation restrictions.

Queensland’s LNP government, which features a diverse range of south-east metropolitan figures and regional MPs from remote rural areas, remained divided over gun reforms after the state agreed to back a national firearms register.

However, former police officer Purdie told reporters on Sunday he supported further restrictions.

“I’m an ex front-line copper for a long time, I know what It’s like to stare down the barrel of a gun that someone’s pointing at you in anger,” the police minister said.

“I’ve been working closely with the police ... to make sure our police have all the powers that they need to target particularly high-risk individuals with guns and that’s a process we’re going through.

“We are going to crack down on dangerous people with guns and high-risk individuals … we are putting together a big package, and we’re going through the process now.”

Opposition police spokesman Glenn Butcher accused the government of allowing internal squabbles to delay state-based reforms.

“This could have been a leadership defining moment for David Crisafulli, but he’s proven he is too weak to stand up to divided cabinet and backbench,” he said in a statement to this masthead.

“It’s time he pulled his cabinet into line and acted to make Queensland is a safer place for generations.”

The Crisafulli government’s call followed an outpouring of grief in Canberra, where Albanese rushed back representatives to pass the legislation.

The prime minister told parliament Australians “must channel our anger into meaningful action to ensure an atrocity such as this can never happen again”.

“That responsibility starts with me, as Australia’s 31st prime minister,” he said.

“It also belongs to each of us here in this chamber as parliamentarians.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.