South Australian premier told gun lobby he wouldn’t tighten firearm laws despite agreeing to federal crackdown

## Summary
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to amend firearm laws in the state despite agreeing to federal reforms. Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP View image in fullscreen South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to amend firearm laws in the state despite agreeing to federal reforms. Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP South Australian premier told gun lobby he wouldn’t tighten firearm laws despite agreeing to federal crackdown Hopes for uniform nationwide gun control reform fade as states walk back federal cabinet commitment after Bondi beach massacre Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to strengthen firearm laws in the state despite agreeing to a national crackdown after the Bondi beach massacre. Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email But two months on from Australia’s worst-ever terror attack, and on the eve of a state election, Malinauskas signalled a different position in a letter to the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia. “I can advise that the South Australian government currently has no plans to amend firearm laws,” the premier said in the 21 February letter, seen by Guardian Australia. “South Australia already has some of the strictest and most comprehensive firearms laws in the country.

## Article Content
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to amend firearm laws in the state despite agreeing to federal reforms.
Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP
View image in fullscreen
South Australian premier Peter Malinauskas assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to amend firearm laws in the state despite agreeing to federal reforms.
Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP
South Australian premier told gun lobby he wouldn’t tighten firearm laws despite agreeing to federal crackdown
Hopes for uniform nationwide gun control reform fade as states walk back federal cabinet commitment after Bondi beach massacre
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The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to strengthen firearm laws in the state despite agreeing to a national crackdown after the Bondi beach massacre.
In a letter signed a day before the government entered caretaker mode for the state election on 21 March, Malinauskas told a peak shooters group that SA had some of the strictest gun laws in the country and there was “currently … no plans to amend” them.
‘Little people just get stepped on’: South Australians sick of major parties are ripe for One Nation’s message
Read more
The position represents the latest blow to Anthony Albanese’s hopes for uniform
nationwide gun control reform
, as more states walk back from the national cabinet commitment after 15 people were killed and dozens injured in the 14 December shooting at a Hanukah event at Bondi beach.
The prime minister secured agreement from premiers and chief ministers to pursue stricter gun controls across the country, including caps on the number of firearms a person could own.
At the time, Malinauskas argued South Australia’s firearms laws were the toughest in the country but the government was prepared to further strengthen them.
“While we as a state are already in a position with the strongest firearms laws in the country, we’re not going to allow ourselves to fall behind because others get in front of us,” he said.
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But two months on from Australia’s worst-ever terror attack, and on the eve of a state election, Malinauskas signalled a different position in a letter to the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia.
“I can advise that the South Australian government currently has no plans to amend firearm laws,” the premier said in the 21 February letter, seen by Guardian Australia.
“South Australia already has some of the strictest and most comprehensive firearms laws in the country. These laws are designed to protect the broader community while recognising that the overwhelming majority of firearms owners in South Australia are responsible, law-abiding citizens who comply with their obligations.”
SA already limits gun ownership to Australian citizens and permanent residents, and requires licences to be renewed at least every five years – two of the reforms agreed at national cabinet.
View image in fullscreen
Hand guns and rifles handed in during the Australian government gun amnesty in 2017.
Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP
Malinauskas left the door open to future changes but said any consideration of new laws would be “approached carefully, thoughtfully and with genuine consultation”.
“Responsible firearms owners deserve certainty, fairness and respect, and reforms must always be grounded in evidence,” he said.
The premier offered a similar response when Guardian Australia sought clarification this week as to whether a re-elected state Labor government would implement the national cabinet agreement.
“We only have an interest in amending the gun laws to the extent that they are based on evidence and that needs to be thought through very carefully, and that’s our policy,” Malinauskas said.
The federal government was initially hopeful the states and territories would agree to “ambitious” reforms no later than March this year and pass laws through their parliaments no later than 1 July.
“Gun laws are only as strong as the weakest state. Having laws that are national and consistent, is vital to their effectiveness,” the prime minister and the home affairs minister, Tony Burke, said on 19 December as the federal government announced the biggest gun buyback since the Port Arthur massacre.
‘The fight of our lives’: Australian gun lobby’s campaign against tighter laws after Bondi massacre revealed
Read more
But after the
NSW parliament was recalled before Christmas
to pass new gun laws, which included a cap on the number of firearms a person could own, other states and territories have largely gone in their own direction.
The
David Crisafulli government
this month passed new gun laws in Queensland that restricted ownership to Australian citizens but did not cap firearms per individual.
The Tasmanian government also
opposes caps
but is under pressure from the Labor opposition – and its own police commissioner – to include them in wid

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## Expert Analysis

### Merits
- Sign up for the Breaking News Australia email But two months on from Australia’s worst-ever terror attack, and on the eve of a state election, Malinauskas signalled a different position in a letter to the Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia. “I can advise that the South Australian government currently has no plans to amend firearm laws,” the premier said in the 21 February letter, seen by Guardian Australia. “South Australia already has some of the strictest and most comprehensive firearms laws in the country.
- The federal government was initially hopeful the states and territories would agree to “ambitious” reforms no later than March this year and pass laws through their parliaments no later than 1 July. “Gun laws are only as strong as the weakest state.

### Areas for Consideration
N/A

### Implications
- Photograph: Matt Turner/AAP South Australian premier told gun lobby he wouldn’t tighten firearm laws despite agreeing to federal crackdown Hopes for uniform nationwide gun control reform fade as states walk back federal cabinet commitment after Bondi beach massacre Get our breaking news email , free app or daily news podcast The South Australian premier, Peter Malinauskas, assured gun lobbyists that he had no plans to strengthen firearm laws in the state despite agreeing to a national crackdown after the Bondi beach massacre.
- In a letter signed a day before the government entered caretaker mode for the state election on 21 March, Malinauskas told a peak shooters group that SA had some of the strictest gun laws in the country and there was “currently … no plans to amend” them. ‘Little people just get stepped on’: South Australians sick of major parties are ripe for One Nation’s message Read more The position represents the latest blow to Anthony Albanese’s hopes for uniform nationwide gun control reform , as more states walk back from the national cabinet commitment after 15 people were killed and dozens injured in the 14 December shooting at a Hanukah event at Bondi beach.
- The prime minister secured agreement from premiers and chief ministers to pursue stricter gun controls across the country, including caps on the number of firearms a person could own.
- Photograph: Dean Lewins/AAP Malinauskas left the door open to future changes but said any consideration of new laws would be “approached carefully, thoughtfully and with genuine consultation”. “Responsible firearms owners deserve certainty, fairness and respect, and reforms must always be grounded in evidence,” he said.

### Expert Commentary
This article covers gun, laws, south topics. Notable strengths include discussion of gun. Readability: Flesch-Kincaid grade 0.0. Word count: 983.