Sykes: Firearms dealers and licence holders up in arms about proposed fee increases
Proposed State Government increases in firearms licence fees will result in many small country firearms dealers shutting up shop according to Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.
In raising the issue today in Parliament, Dr Sykes said, “Many firearms organisation and owners have written to me outraged that this Government intends increasing firearms dealer’s fees by over 600% to $7,000 per annum.
“If allowed to proceed this will result in many smaller dealers shutting up shop, thus making it harder for farmers and legitimate shooters to access ammunition and firearms.
Dr Sykes continued, “This fee increase is based on the premise of cost recovery/user pays however, as usual, the Government has failed to ensure that the current systems are operating at maximum efficiency.
“One very effective cost-cutting measure for Licensing Services Division would be to fast track firearms licence renewal as occurs with driver’s licences. This simplified renewal process would be consistent with the National Firearms Agreement.
“But rather than adopt this common sense approach the Government wants to tax legitimate firearms owners and dealers out of business.”
Coalition MP’s Andrew McIntosh, Shadow Minister for Police & Emergency Services and Bill Tilley, Member for Benambra also met with firearms representatives last week and the Liberal and Nationals are in 100% agreement that the fee increases are grossly unjust.
Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to reject the proposed fee increases and get on with the job of tackling illegal firearms users rather than continuing to penalise law abiding legal firearms users.
In raising the issue today in Parliament, Dr Sykes said, “Many firearms organisation and owners have written to me outraged that this Government intends increasing firearms dealer’s fees by over 600% to $7,000 per annum.
“If allowed to proceed this will result in many smaller dealers shutting up shop, thus making it harder for farmers and legitimate shooters to access ammunition and firearms.
Dr Sykes continued, “This fee increase is based on the premise of cost recovery/user pays however, as usual, the Government has failed to ensure that the current systems are operating at maximum efficiency.
“One very effective cost-cutting measure for Licensing Services Division would be to fast track firearms licence renewal as occurs with driver’s licences. This simplified renewal process would be consistent with the National Firearms Agreement.
“But rather than adopt this common sense approach the Government wants to tax legitimate firearms owners and dealers out of business.”
Coalition MP’s Andrew McIntosh, Shadow Minister for Police & Emergency Services and Bill Tilley, Member for Benambra also met with firearms representatives last week and the Liberal and Nationals are in 100% agreement that the fee increases are grossly unjust.
Dr Sykes concluded, “I call on the Minister for Police and Emergency Services to reject the proposed fee increases and get on with the job of tackling illegal firearms users rather than continuing to penalise law abiding legal firearms users.
posted by Greg Naylor at
4:00 PM
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