SSAA ACT Inc. Statements

SSAA ACT INC — Member Update: Your Association Needs You (AGM Leadership Opportunities)

MEDIA RELEASE - 26 June 2026

Demonising Lawful Firearm Owners Doesn’t Make Anyone Safer

Opinion

Public debate about firearms in Australia often falls into a familiar pattern: rising numbers of licensed firearms are presented as a looming threat, and any advocacy from shooting organisations is dismissed as “the gun lobby calling the shots.” A recent article claiming Queensland has “weakened gun controls” follows this script closely – but it leaves out the most important part of the story.

 

The people being labelled as “the gun lobby” are not shadowy political actors. They are farmers, sporting shooters, Indigenous rangers, pest‑management professionals, small business owners, and rural families. They are the very people who are directly affected by firearm regulation and who have every right – and every reason – to advocate for evidence‑based, proportionate and fair policy.

 

Participating in public policy development does not make them a threat to public safety.

 

It makes them stakeholders.

 

And that distinction matters, because the article’s central claim – that Queensland and by extension other Australian jurisdictions are now less safe – simply isn’t supported by evidence.

Lawful ownership is not a public‑safety risk

The article highlights that Queensland now has more than 1.15 million registered firearms, implying that the simple number itself is dangerous. But numbers without context are misleading.

Australia’s licensing system is one of the strictest in the world. To own a firearm, a person must pass background checks, demonstrate a genuine reason, comply with storage inspections, and remain subject to ongoing suitability assessments. The presence of a registered firearm in a licensed household is not, in itself, a risk factor for violence. If it were, Australia’s firearm homicide rate would not remain among the lowest globally.

 

The data is clear: the overwhelming majority of firearm crime in Australia involves unregistered, illegally trafficked, or improvised weapons, not firearms owned by licensed individuals. Constantly conflating lawful ownership with criminal misuse does nothing to improve public safety or opinion. It simply misdirects attention away from the real problem.

Theft statistics need context, not alarmism

The article cites 400 stolen firearms in Queensland last year. That sounds alarming until you consider the denominator: more than 1.15 million registered firearms. That equates to a theft rate of around 0.03% – a tiny fraction.

 

More importantly, theft trends track closely with general property crime trends, not with changes in firearm regulation. When break‑ins rise, theft of all valuable items rises. When break‑ins fall, so do thefts. This is a policing and crime prevention issue, not a failure of firearm policy.

 

Queensland has also strengthened penalties for firearm theft – a fact the article omits entirely.

Domestic violence data is not evidence of weakened laws

The article argues that fewer licence revocations in domestic violence cases must mean Queensland is becoming less safe. But numbers alone cannot tell that story.

 

A reduction in revocations could reflect:

  • improved early‑intervention programs
  • more accurate risk assessments
  • changes in reporting or administrative processes
  • fewer cases escalating to the point of requiring revocation.

 

The article provides no evidence that domestic violence related firearm incidents have increased. It simply assumes that fewer revocations equal less safety. That assumption is not supported by any available data.

 

The article also attempts to categorise firearms owners as perpetrators of domestic violence or a risk of family related harm, simply because of they own firearms or there are firearms in a household.

 

Such assumptions reduce complex social‑risk factors to a single variable – firearm ownership – and that oversimplification does nothing to improve the safety of those actually at risk.

Stakeholder engagement is not “the gun lobby calling the shots”

One of the most troubling aspects of the article is its framing of stakeholder engagement as undue influence. When environmental groups advocate for conservation policy, or when medical associations advocate for health reform, we call it consultation. When licensed firearm owners and industry bodies do the same, it is suddenly portrayed as sinister.

This double standard undermines democratic participation.

The people who use firearms for work, sport, and land management have practical, lived experience with how regulations operate on the ground. Their input is not only legitimate – it is essential for designing effective, enforceable, and proportionate laws.

 

Advocating for evidence‑based policy is not a threat to public safety. It is a contribution to it.

A national buyback is not a magic solution

The article criticises Queensland for not joining a national buyback but fails to explain what such a buyback would target or how it would reduce crime. Previous buybacks focused on specific prohibited categories – not the types of firearms currently owned by licensed Queenslanders.

 

A buyback of legal firearms would not affect the illegal market, which is where criminal misuse originates. Symbolic gestures may generate headlines, but they do not address the real drivers of firearm violence.

The real issue: illicit firearms and organised crime

If the goal is to reduce firearm‑related harm, the focus must be on:

  • illegal trafficking
  • organised crime
  • drug‑related violence
  • unregistered firearms

 

None of these issues are addressed by restricting licensed, vetted owners. Yet the article directs its criticism almost exclusively at them.

 

This misdirection risks creating policy that, has in the past, been politically satisfying but practically ineffective at improving public safety by addressing criminal activity.

The Royal Commission is hearing evidence that raises significant concerns about the incident that has become the next driving force for anti-gun lobbyists to hang their hats on – and push agendas.

Evidence, not fear, should guide firearm policy

Queensland’s firearm laws remain robust, and there is no evidence that lawful owners pose an increased threat to public safety. The article’s narrative – that the state is “awash with guns” and heading toward disaster – is not supported by crime data, police statements, or national trends.

Public safety is too important to be shaped by dear based rhetoric.

It must be grounded in evidence, proportionality, and genuine engagement with all affected stakeholders – including the people the article dismissively labels as “the gun lobby.”

 

Because in a democracy, listening to the people most affected by policy isn’t a problem.

 

It’s the point.

MEDIA RELEASE - 27 May 2026

Parliamentary Committee Confirms Evidence Gaps, Consultation Failures and Significant Uncertainties in ACT Firearms Bills

CANBERRA, ACT — The ACT Standing Committee on Legal Affairs has published its report on the Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026 and the Firearms (Firearm Prohibition Orders) Amendment Bill 2026. While the committee has recommended the Assembly pass both bills, the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia ACT (SSAA ACT INC) notes that the report contains significant acknowledgements of the concerns raised by the licensed firearms community throughout this process.

 

The committee’s own Finding 1 states plainly: “The Committee finds there is significant uncertainty over the operation of the proposed numerical caps.” The committee further acknowledged that the link between the specific caps proposed and a reduction in firearm-related harm is not definitive, and that the Government’s decision was driven primarily by National Cabinet politics and NSW alignment — not by ACT-specific data.

“The report is not a clean win for the Government. It is a document filled with caveats, acknowledgements and obligations — many of them directly reflecting what our members and the broader community put to this committee. We intend to hold the Government to every one of them.”

Evidence Base Confirmed as Insufficient

The committee explicitly acknowledged that the numerical caps are not supported by ACT-specific evidence. No data was presented linking a cap of five or ten firearms to measurable reductions in firearm-related harm in the ACT. The caps were supported on the basis of National Cabinet commitments — which constituted a commitment to develop options, not a mandate to legislate — and a broad alignment goal with NSW, despite the committee also accepting that the ACT is already out of alignment with NSW in a number of respects.

 

The committee also found that the discretionary power granted to the Firearms Registrar to approve exemptions above the caps introduces real uncertainty. Without clear statutory criteria, applicants cannot predict the threshold for approval and inconsistent outcomes are likely.

RECOMMENDATION 1:
The Government must establish a statutory criteria-based approval framework for Registrar exemption decisions.

FINDING 1:
Significant uncertainty exists over the operation of the proposed numerical caps.

Consultation Failures Directly Acknowledged

The committee’s conclusion was unambiguous: committee scrutiny is not a replacement for executive consultation. It is supplementary. The committee was cautious in accepting the Government’s assertion that the parliamentary inquiry process itself constituted adequate public engagement, and found that many unintended consequences — including the impact on biathlon, antique firearms and cross-border operations — could have been identified and resolved had genuine consultation occurred before the bills were introduced.

 

SSAA ACT Inc. notes that we raised the absence of meaningful consultation from the outset. The committee has now validated that concern formally.

RECOMMENDATION 4:
The Government must continue to consult all relevant internal and external stakeholders on implementation to minimise unintended consequences.

Recategorisation: Government Committed to Ongoing Engagement

The committee found that the recategorisation of straight-pull, self-opening and self-closing action firearms to Category C produced unintended consequences for legitimate sporting, recreational and commercial activities that were not considered during the bill’s rapid development. Biathlon Australia told the committee its sport would effectively be shut down in the ACT — a consequence the Government directorate acknowledged it had not considered.

 

Both the Minister for Police and the Chief Police Officer confirmed in evidence that regulatory changes — including exceptions and exemptions — are available to address these consequences. The ACT Government’s own submission stated it is:

“Committed to ongoing engagement with the firearms community to work through the regulatory impacts of the Public Safety Bill and ensure that this amendment does not disproportionately affect specific groups of gun owners.”

SSAA ACT Inc. will hold the Government to this commitment.

RECOMMENDATION 5:
Further work must be undertaken to enable biathletes to participate in their sport in the ACT

RECOMMENDATION 6:
Categories should align with other jurisdictions as much as possible, with plain-English explanation of any differences

RECOMMENDATION 2:
The Government must engage with the antique collector community to clarify the interaction of caps, exemptions and magazine provisions.

Cross-Border Complexity: Guidance Urgently Required

The committee confirmed that cross-border arrangements between the ACT and NSW are not straightforward and that these bills make them significantly more complex. Farmers, pest operators, sporting competitors and recreational shooters who live or operate on both sides of the border face real and unresolved compliance questions. The committee acknowledged that mutual recognition between the two jurisdictions does not mean NSW simply recognises everything under ACT law and vice versa.

RECOMMENDATION 3:
ACT and NSW governments must work together to produce clear plain-English materials explaining how the new laws operate on both sides of the border.

Buyback Must Be at Market Value — Committee Demands Transparency

The committee found the lack of detail around the National Gun Buyback Scheme to be a significant concern. SSAA ACT INC welcomes the committee’s clear position that compensation must be fair and transparent. Specifically, the committee’s recommendations make clear that:

Compensation must reflect pre-December 2025 market value — not the depressed post-announcement price caused by market oversupply following the WA and eastern-states reforms.

Accessories and ammunition must be included in the buyback. 

It is an offence to possess ammunition without the matching licence, and optics and other accessories become worthless without the firearm.

Any licence holder who voluntarily wishes to surrender additional firearms should also receive market value or higher compensation.

RECOMMENDATION 8:
The full estimated cost of the buyback scheme must be tabled in the Assembly when Commonwealth discussions are finalised.

RECOMMENDATION 9:
The Government must advocate for the inclusion of accessories and ammunition in the buyback scheme.

Storage and Compliance: A Better Path

The committee agreed with evidence put by licensed firearms owners that improving storage requirements and compliance inspections would more directly address firearm theft than ownership caps alone. It made strengthening storage, compliance and pre-approval requirements a priority recommendation.

RECOMMENDATION 7 (Priority):
Develop and introduce legislation to strengthen firearm storage, compliance and licence pre-approval requirements, with consultation with experienced owners, clubs and collectors.

“Our community came to this inquiry with legitimate, evidence-based concerns. The committee has heard them. We now have formal recommendations on the parliamentary record covering consultation, evidence, exemption criteria, cross-border clarity, buyback fairness and regulatory flexibility. We will continue to engage at every step to ensure the Government honours the commitments made in and reflected by this report.”

SSAA ACT INC — Member Update: ACT Firearms Reform Inquiry Report

Have your say: Member Survey, Petition and Media Campaign

21 February 2026

Dear Members,

SSAA ACT Inc. is currently undertaking a coordinated approach to ensure the voices of responsible firearms owners are heard clearly in current and future policy discussions.

As part of this effort, we are asking all members to participate in three important initiatives:

Member Survey
We have launched a long-ish survey to better understand your experiences, concerns and priorities. It also asks some quantitative questions so we can understand the impacts of current proposals to our members. Your feedback will help guide our advocacy and strengthen our submissions to government.

Responses must be provided by 28 February 2026 to be included in the SSAA ACT Inc. submission to the Inquiry into the Bill. Responses will still be accepted after this date though.

Community Petition
We are supporting a petition in the Legislative Assembly calling on the Government to ensure reform is based on evidence, is proportionate to risk, is fair to law abiding licensed firearms owners, and targeted against criminal misuse.

Media Campaign – Putting a Human Face to Firearms Ownership
We are developing a media campaign that highlights the real people behind lawful firearms ownership – everyday Canberrans who value safety, responsibility, sport and community.

This initiative aims to challenge stereotypes and help ensure the public conversation is balanced and informed.

Your participation in these activities is vital. Together, they help us present strong, credible and representative advocacy on behalf of our membership.

We encourage you to:
1. Complete the member survey
2. Sign and share the petition
3. Consider supporting the media campaign by sharing your story.

Thank you for your continued support and commitment to responsible firearms ownership in the ACT. With your involvement, we can help ensure our collective voice remains strong, informed and respected.

Member Update – Proposed Bill for Changes to ACT Firearms Act 1996

8 February 2026

Dear Members,

The Executive Committee of Council and other volunteers have been working throughout the holidays to develop and coordinate a coherent response to the proposed changes resulting from the Bondi Terrorist attack in December. We have also been working to engage with key decision-makers and stakeholders, to keep our members informed of the situation and to provide meaningful guidance. A quick summary of activities is outlined below:

  • initial collection of information and communication with key stakeholders – primarily SSAA National and SSAA NSW but also with other SSAA States & Territories.

  • Development and distribution of;

    • initial Member Update on 20 December 2025

    • Submission to ACT Government, available on the Legislative Action page of our website, here: Legislative Action – SSAA ACT Inc

    • follow-up Member Update on 5 January 2026 – and supporting Members Information Pack

  • Meeting requests to;

    • ACT Chief Minister (Andrew Barr)

    • ACT Police Minister (Dr Marisa Paterson)

    • ACT Leader of the Opposition (Mark Parton)

    • ACT Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Deborah Morris)

  • Meetings / Correspondence / Discussions with;

    • ACT Leader of the Opposition (Mark Parton), including a meeting at the SSAA ACT Ranges

    • ACT Deputy Leader of the Opposition and Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services (Deborah Morris), including a meeting at the SSAA ACT Ranges

    • ACT Police Minister (Dr Marisa Paterson), including a meeting at the ACT Legislative Assembly

    • The Executive Committee met face-to-face on Sunday 18 January with the SSAA President (Andrew Judd), the CEO (Tom Kenyon), and the SSAA Media & Political Manager (Charlotte Fox) ahead of the recall session of the Federal Parliament to debate the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026. Afterwards, the SSAA CEO – Tom Kenyon met with Senator for the ACT (David Pocock) at a roundtable discussion at Parliament House.

Outcomes from the above include;

  • Commitment from ACT Liberals to consult with and consider input from SSAA ACT Inc on potential or proposed changes to the ACT Firearms Act 1996 

  • Advice from the ACT Police Minister that;

    • there is no intent to change the existing Firearms License term

    • The ACT Government intends to transition to an integrated screening and suitability assessment process for Firearms Licenses and other purposes – utilising AusCheck

    • The ACT Government will table a draft new ACT Firearms Act during the first sitting period in February – from 3-6 February

    • The draft Bill should go straight to Committee for review and a public consultation period

    • There is likely to be progressive process of development and implementation of changes to the existing ACT Firearms legislation, as well as appropriate opportunities for consultation with key stakeholders before any proposed changes were legislated

A full summary of our meeting with the ACT Police Minister is available on the Legislative Action page of our website, here: Legislative Action – SSAA ACT Inc

The Executive Committee is now developing a Submission for the ACT Standing Committee on Legal Affairs in response to the recently tabled Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026, which is available on the Legislative Action page of our website, here: Legislative Action – SSAA ACT Inc.

Keep your eye out for a Member Survey in the coming week or so, and we will draw member feedback from your responses.

Media Management

At our February meeting, Council also agreed to retain a Canberra-based Public Relations firm to develop and manage a three-month online public relations campaign to raise public awareness and mobilise public support for SSAA ACT Inc.  We are approaching ACT-based PR firms but if any of our Members have applicable experience, expertise and capability in developing, implementing and managing a public relations campaign – and are interested in either providing the service on a commercial basis or helping out as a volunteer – please contact our Vice President (Julian Talbot) at: vp@ssaaact.org.au ​

If members are interested in being part of the campaign and telling their stories, could they please get in contact via this form, or email the above address.

Gun Buyback and Firearms Limits;

There is no actual gun buyback at the moment. The Federal Government has passed an appropriation to fund a future gun buyback, should one be implemented – but without any dollar value attached and without any details as to how it might be constituted or implemented. NSW will certainly need to implement a buyback, in conjunction with the Federal Government, but there have been no details about that yet either. Firearms Limits have been proposed for the ACT but have not yet been legislated and the final Bill is subject to a Legislative Assembly review and consultation process.

  • SSAA National is actively lobbying at the National level against a buyback and the imposition of arbitrary firearms limits

    • so are we at the ACT Government level

  • SSAA National is actively lobbying that any buyback must be based on fair-market-value, consistent with the 1996 buyback scheme

    • so are we at the ACT Government level

  • SSAA National has engaged a legal firm to examine the Commonwealth Constitutional and legislative issues underpinning any buyback with respect to any requirement to pay fair market value and to avoid financial detriment arising from any compulsory acquisition

  • SSAA National will launch a legal challenge if the government seeks to implement anything other than fair-market-value

    • SSAA ACT Inc has agreed to engage a Canberra-based legal firm to provide specialist legal advice and to represent our interests in any legal challenge that may be appropriate or required.

  • SSAA National is liaising with other Associations to join a class action against anything other than fair market value.

  • In the ACT there are legislative provisions requiring that any compulsory acquisitions must be based on fair market value and not result in undue financial detriment.

  • In the ACT, the acquisition of assets or goods requires “just terms compensation” based on the market value of a “willing but not anxious seller” selling to a “willing but not anxious buyer.” 

  • In the ACT, even if there is “No General Market”, compensation is determined by its worth to the owner, including replacement costs.

Petition

Nicole Small (our Secretary) has personally initiated a petition in the ACT Legislative Assembly in response to proposed changes to the ACT Firearms Act:  Firearms Reform – Evidence Based Policy and Proper Consultation ACT Legislative Assembly 

The petition calls for (among other things)

  • an evidence-based policy process, ensuring that any proposed changes are: 

    • justified by data; 

    • supported by expert analysis; and 

    • demonstrably linked to improved public safety outcomes;

  • genuine, fair and reasonable consultation with affected stakeholders, including: 

    • licensed firearm owners; 

    • firearms dealers and retailers; 

    • primary producers and land managers; 

    • pest control operators; 

    • sporting organisations; 

    • conservation bodies; 

    • government agencies and security organisations that hold licenses; and 

    • rural landholders;

  • ensure that any reform measures are proportionate, fair and targeted, with a clear focus on criminal misuse and illegal firearms rather than lawful, compliant ownership;

The petition is open and at last count had over 700 signatures. Any petition over 500 is automatically referred to the applicable committee but the more signatures a petition has, the more seriously it is likely to be taken.

Although it is a private petition, it is endorsed by the SSAA ACT Inc Council and I have no hesitation commending it for your consideration.

The Secretary is also working on facilitating opportunities for members to have direct contact with various politicians, police, political parties and potentially other shooting entities to be able to ask questions and be informed. 

This is a stressful time for everyone and all of us are anxious about what changes may be made to the firearms laws that have been working effectively to maintain and promote public safety in the ACT for decades. We are also anxious that the reputation, viability and sustainability of our shooting sports and other legitimate firearms-related activities, are not undermined or jeapordised by the actions of criminals, extremists and terrorists.

​Shane Stroud
President
SSAA ACT Inc