On Firearms in Tasmania…

Media Release – Felix Ellis MP, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, 3 July 2026

Have Your Say on Stronger Firearms Laws

Tough new laws to take firearms out of the hands of criminals are now out for consultation.

Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, said legislation to deliver the National Firearms Register in Tasmania would strengthen the ability of law enforcement to share firearms information in near-real time across Tasmania and interstate.

“The Bondi terrorist attack showed the devastating consequences of a failure to share intelligence across jurisdictions and agencies,” Minister Ellis said.

“These reforms are about making sure the right information is available to law enforcement when they are making decisions about who should have access to firearms.

“Our reforms put criminals on notice, with mandatory prison terms for firearms theft and possession of a stolen firearm.

“If you steal a firearm, or you’re caught with a stolen firearm, you should expect to spend time behind bars.

“Stolen firearms fuel the black market, empower organised crime and put our community at risk.

“That’s why a key feature of these reforms is the introduction of a three-month, minimum mandatory sentence for firearm theft and possession of a stolen firearm.

“This is a reform that should have happened years ago. While Labor and the Greens blocked mandatory sentencing more than a decade ago, we’re now righting that wrong.”

Further measures including the reclassification of straight pull and button/lever release (self-ejecting) centre-fire and shotgun firearms to the more restrictive Category C licence, and the introduction of Australian citizenship as a requirement of firearm ownership with appropriate carveouts, are subject to a jointly funded buyback with the Federal Government.

“Tasmania was clear from the outset that we would consult with our communities on evidence-based firearms laws rather than rush through a knee jerk reaction.

“This is an important opportunity for everyday Tasmanians to now have their say. We welcome submissions and we will continue to genuinely listen as we craft these laws.”

Minister Ellis said states continue to negotiate a fair and affordable model with Canberra.

“We have committed to compensation of 1.5 times market value for the firearms being reclassified, and any other voluntary buyback at market value.

“The Federal Government announced the buyback six months ago, however there has been no significant updates since then.

“Our focus is on keeping firearms out of the hands of terrorists and criminals, not penalising law-abiding licence holders.”

Media Release – Jen Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Services, 3 July 2026

Liberals Want Unlimited Guns in the Community

Tasmanian Labor welcomes the overdue release of the Government’s firearms Bill for consultation.

We remain concerned that at a time when it seems like there’s a shooting or a gun theft in the news every other week, Premier Rockliff and the Liberals want unlimited guns in the community.

Labor does not support that, and Tasmanians don’t support that either.

We look forward to scrutinising the Bill and working with the Parliament to deliver practical reforms that improve community safety while respecting the legitimate needs of primary producers, sports shooters, and recreational hunters.

Statement – Lee Hanson, One Nation (via Facebook)

One Nation completely rejects the continued attack on Tasmania’s law-abiding firearms owners.

The Tasmanian Liberal Government has released proposed amendments to the Firearms Act for public consultation. While there are some positive measures, including tougher penalties for firearms-related crime, these proposals are again accompanied by unnecessary restrictions on responsible firearms owners.

Even more concerning is that Tasmanian Labor, supported by the Greens and some independents, are preparing amendments to introduce caps on firearms ownership and even further restrictions on licensed firearm owners.

This is purely political grandstanding, driving personal agendas, with very little to no understanding of what law-abiding firearms owners are already subjected to under legislation and regulations.

The real problem has never been licensed firearms owners. The real problem is the criminal use, possession, theft, and illegal manufacture of firearms. Why do they keep wanting to punish law abiding firearms owners.

In 2023, Tasmanian Shooters Union President – Phillip Bigg briefed the Tasmanian legislative council during the proposed firearms amendment bill. He urged them to focus on mandatory sentences for firearms crimes. This was ignored at that time. Why? The question is: what has suddenly changed? It is great they are focussed on this now, but equally so, not doing enough to support on lawful owners, and imposing further restrictions.

One Nation welcomes stronger penalties for criminals. That is where the focus should always have been.
What we do not support are arbitrary caps on firearm ownership, unnecessary restrictions on licensed firearms owners, or Anthony Albanese’s failed national firearms buy-back agenda, which has already been rejected by the majority of Australian states and territories. Yet Canberra’s approach is now influencing Tasmanian Labor, Greens, and many on the cross-bench’s push for ownership caps.

Law-abiding firearms owners should not be used as political scapegoats because governments have failed to deal with criminals.

One Nation opposes any changes to the Firearms Act that unnecessarily restrict responsible firearms owners. We believe political agendas must be put aside so genuine consultation can occur and reforms can focus on those who actually commit firearms crimes.

Have your say now before it is too late.

The Tasmania Police consultation on the proposed Firearms Act amendments is open from 3 July until 7 August 2026.

We also encourage everyone to write to their state member of parliament and make it clear your position.

One Nation will continue standing with Tasmania’s law-abiding firearms owners while supporting tougher penalties for criminals.

Media Release – Jen Butler MP, Shadow Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency Services, 24 July 2026

More Firearms Being Used as Weapons, Liberals Still Want Unlimited Guns in the Community

At a time when incidents involving firearms are increasing in Tasmania, Felix Ellis is fighting for unlimited guns in the community – in direct contradiction to the advice of his Police Commissioner.

The Tasmania Police’s firearms dashboard reveals an alarming 22 per cent increase in incidents of firearms being used as weapons to 83, a 19 per cent increase in assaults involving a firearm to 64, and a 50 per cent increase in robbery incidents to 12 between June 2025 – May 2026, compared to the year prior.

Forty firearms theft incidents resulted in a total of 155 firearms stolen, with only 29 stolen firearms recovered.

Right to Information documents reveal that incidents of firearms being used as weapons have risen 62 per cent in the last four years, from 105 in 2021/22 to 171 in 2024/25.

Firearm-related family violence incidents follow a similar trend, with information released in budget estimates showing an increase of 103 per cent over the same period.

These numbers should be deeply troubling for Felix Ellis, who is supposed to be the Minister in charge of public safety.

Instead, his actions time and time again show he is putting political interest above the safety of Tasmanians and Tasmanian police officers, and Premier Rockliff keeps letting him.

At a time when it seems like there’s a shooting or a gun theft in the news every other week, Premier Rockliff and the Liberals are advocating for unlimited guns in the community.

Labor does not support that, and Tasmanians don’t support that either.

Tasmanians are witnessing a Minister being controlled by the powerful gun lobby, and the Premier needs to rein him in.

We look forward to working with the Parliament to deliver practical reforms that improve community safety while respecting the legitimate needs of primary producers, sports shooters, and recreational hunters.

Media Release – Tabatha Badger MP, Greens Police spokesperson, 24 July 2026

Firearm Crime Stats Show Need for Ownership Caps

Tasmania’s latest firearms crime statistics are deeply concerning and proof of the serious threat unlimited firearms in the community pose to public safety. To keep communities safe, the state must move to introduce caps on ownership.

There are more firearms thefts per capita in our state than anywhere else in the country. That’s a shameful statistic to have in a state that once led the way on firearms reform.

It has been on Felix Ellis’ watch that firearms crime has increased across Tasmania. This is a Police Minister who ignores advice from his own Police Commissioner, disbanded Tasmania’s firearm consultative committee, campaigned against and then abandoned firearms reform the Premier agreed to with National Cabinet months ago, and made national headlines through his shameful treatment of the media.

Minister Ellis should be doing his job and acting in the interests of public safety, not spending his time and energy provoking hateful attacks online. Unfortunately his main interest is playing politics on the most serious of issues.

The conduct of this Minister is unacceptable. What will it take for the Premier to show some leadership? When will he finally step in and take control of this situation?

The Greens remain committed to reducing the number of firearms in our community in the interests of public safety and we will work with colleagues across the Parliament to achieve this outcome.

If you’re interested in this article, please join our mailing list. It’s all free … and we won’t share your information with anyone!

If you have any comments you’d like to add to this article, please contribute via this form. We’re trialling this while we work through replacing our comments section.

Truly independent media is a cornerstone of democracy.

Remember: once they gain power the first action of every despot in modern history is to take control of the media, so please consider supporting us.

Your kids will thank you and so will your Granny, but the aspiring despots won’t…