Media Release – Felix Ellis, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management
Firearms Consultative Committee Communique
Stronger laws to keep firearms out of the hands of terrorists and criminals were endorsed at the inaugural meeting of the Tasmanian Government’s Firearm Consultative Committee.
Delivering an election commitment, the Committee was established to work with the Government on a long-term basis regarding firearm regulation and public safety.
Committee Chair and Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, thanked members for their constructive participation.
“Despite diverse perspectives, the strong consensus on the most important community safety reforms shows that there is far more that unites us than divides us,” Minister Ellis said.
“The Committee has endorsed a suite of strong measures to keep firearms out of the wrong hands, including the expanded use of criminal intelligence in firearms licensing, and legislative amendments to fast-track the National Firearms Register.
“Tasmania is leading the country in delivering the Register, and our Government’s highest priority remains accelerating the work to strengthen intelligence sharing.”
The Committee also endorsed tougher penalties for firearm theft and possession of stolen firearms, and making Australian citizenship the default eligibility requirement for a firearms license.
The Official Communique, and details of what was discussed, can be found here.
Details of the appointment of the Firearms Consultative Committee can be found here.
Media Release – Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Police Spokesperson, 26 February 2026
Delays Continue on Critical Firearms Safety Reform
It’s deeply disappointing to see the Rockliff Government continuing to delay a decision on critical firearms safety reforms.
The update that’s been released from the Firearms Consultative Committee has done little more than reinforce the same talking points the Police Minister has been running for weeks on this issue. Unfortunately that’s not surprising, given the Minister created a committee that has a clear majority that is pro-firearms and opposed to tighter restrictions, and has members that have been publicly supporting him.
Despite the Police Association of Tasmania backing the national buyback scheme, alongside the Greens, the Opposition, and a range of other advocates, still the Rockliff Government won’t commit to this critical measure. Nor have they accepted the obvious need for tighter restrictions on gun ownership.
Let’s be really clear. There is no good reason for delay. There is no good reason not to go ahead with the buyback scheme and the related reforms. This is simply Felix Ellis playing politics.
The approach the Police Minister is taking to this serious issue is unacceptable. Enough is enough. It’s time for Premier Jeremy Rockliff to take control.
The Premier has an opportunity for a tri-partisan approach to this issue. He needs to show some leadership, get on board with the national reforms, and work with the Parliament to make sure Tasmania has appropriate laws to ensure the community is as safe as possible.
Given Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been clear that states need to make up their mind on these reforms by March, we call on Jeremy Rockliff to immediately take up this issue.
Media Release – Jen Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, 26 February 2026
Rockliff Still Paralysed on Gun Buyback Scheme
Despite the deadline fast approaching, the Rockliff Liberal Government has remained on the fence about participating in Australia’s gun buyback scheme.
The gun buyback scheme is a critical component of getting guns off the street, yet the Premier has been so paralysed by internal Liberal infighting that he has failed to take a stance.
It’s now been over two months since the Premier endorsed a National Cabinet Communique agreeing that “strong, decisive and focused action was needed on gun law reform.”
What we’ve seen from the Premier since has been anything but.
It’s a case of two months, too long and the Premier’s indecision is leading to division.
Tasmanian Labor has offered a constructive approach to achieving practical reforms that remove surplus guns from our communities while respecting the needs of primary producers, sports shooters, and responsible hunters.
That balance is exactly what Tasmanians expect their leaders to deliver, but it will take leadership from the Premier which has so far been entirely absent from this discussion.
