Easier payment options for gun licences

Rural Victorians will have more options to pay their firearms licence according to Bill Sykes, Nationals Member for Benalla.

Currently the form for renewal of firearms licences indicates that payment may only be made at Westpac Branches or the Police Licensing Services Division.

Dr Sykes said, “Although the option is there to use other financial institutions, it is not indicated on the renewal form. This oversight is now being rectified and applicants will be able to make payments at other institutions at the discretion of that financial institution.

“This issue was bought to my attention by a resident from Rosewhite who was required to travel to Wangaratta, a round trip of 120 kilometres to renew his licence. Upon my writing to Tim Holding, the Minister for Police, other methods of payment are now being considered”.

Dr Sykes continued, “This has been a commonsense decision by the Bracks Government that has been long overdue. Farmers and others that have legitimate reasons for owning firearms have been forced to drive to large regional centres to pay their license renewal fees”.

Dr Sykes explained, “Arrangements have been made to amend the payment notices and guides to include the new options for payment.

“It would seem to me that another practical option would be to allow payments to be made at Australia Post Offices, seeing as most country towns still enjoy the facilities of the local Post Office. This would alleviate the need for many regional Victorians to travel distances of up hundreds of kilometres to pay their fees”.

Dr Sykes concluded by saying, “The Licensing Services Division is also considering the possibility of other payment options such as online credit card payments.

He says that he will continue to ‘keep an eye’ on this issue and make sure that regional Victoria has a fair go”.