LABOR FAILED ON EXTREMISM AND IS NOW TARGETING GUN OWNERS

LABOR FAILED ON EXTREMISM AND IS NOW TARGETING GUN OWNERS

Federal Member for Barker Tony Pasin has criticised the Albanese Government following the release of the interim report of the Royal Commission into antisemitism and social cohesion,

warning that its recommendation to pursue a national gun buyback risks repeating the same mistake made in the immediate aftermath of the Bondi terror attack.

Mr Pasin said the report confirms serious failures by the Albanese Government to deal with the growing threat of extremism, yet Labor is again turning its attention to law-abiding firearm owners.

“The Royal Commission lays bare a Government that failed to take the threat of extremism seriously enough,” Mr Pasin said.

“At the very time the threat environment was deteriorating, funding was falling, coordination was weak, and leadership was lacking.”

Mr Pasin said despite those findings, the report includes a recommendation to pursue a national gun buyback, Recommendation 14, which calls on governments to prioritise efforts to

implement a National Gun Buyback Scheme.

“Labor’s first instinct after the Bondi attack was to target law-abiding gun owners. Now we see that same flawed thinking reflected in this report,” he said.

“That was wrong then, and it is wrong now.”

Mr Pasin said it was deeply concerning that the Prime Minister had confirmed the Government would adopt the report in full.

“The Prime Minister has said his Government has accepted all 14 recommendations,” Mr Pasin said.

“That means Labor has signed up to this gun buyback agenda in its entirety.”

Mr Pasin said the Bondi attack was not caused by a failure of Australia’s gun laws, but by a failure to confront violent extremism.

“Australia does not have a gun problem. We have a problem with extremism.”

“This was a terrorist attack driven by a dangerous ideology, and the Government failed to respond to that threat as it escalated.”

Mr Pasin said responsible firearm owners across regional Australia should not be punished for crimes they did not commit.

“In South Australia, firearm owners are licensed, trained and heavily regulated. They are not the problem and they should not be treated as if they are,” he said.

“Criminals and terrorists do not follow gun laws. More restrictions, more red tape or buybacks will not stop extremism.”

Mr Pasin said the focus of government must be on tackling the real threat.

“If governments are serious about public safety, they should be targeting extremists, hate preachers and terrorist organisations, not farmers and sporting shooters,” he said.

Mr Pasin pointed to the Coalition’s position during debate on Labor’s legislative response, which focused on strengthening powers to deal with extremist groups rather than restricting

lawful firearm ownership.

“There are sensible measures that improve coordination and intelligence sharing, and I support those.”

“But symbolic policies that punish responsible people while doing nothing to address terrorism should be rejected.”

Mr Pasin said the responsibility now sits with state governments, including South Australia, to decide how they respond.

“Premier Malinauskas must rule out any move to introduce further gun restrictions or buybacks in South Australia,” he said.

“Other states have already ruled it out. South Australians deserve the same certainty.”

Mr Pasin said regional communities would be disproportionately affected by any changes.

“In Barker, firearms are part of everyday life, for farm safety, pest control and sport shooting,” he said.

“More red tape will not stop criminals. It will impact people who do the right thing every day.”

Mr Pasin said Australians expect accountability from the Government following the findings of the Royal Commission.

“The Government must accept responsibility for these failures and focus on what will actually keep Australians safe,” he said.