SSAA NSW

6 Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. NSW Liberal Party SSAA NSW spoke to the Hon. Stuart Ayres, Minister for Police & Emergency Services and Minister for Sport & Recreation regarding the Liberal Party views on fi rearms and the shooting sports. On the Liberal Party's policies for the upcoming election: Our election policies will be announced closer to the election. However in saying that I am not expecting any signifi cant changes to the way fi rearms are regulated. On the rumour and debate about the future of the ANZAC Rifl e Range at Malabar: The NSW Government's Sydney International Shooting Centre offers world- class facilities set amongst 80 hectares of semi-rural farmland and bushland in Western Sydney. The Centre has played host to prestigious sports shooting events, including the Sydney 2000 Olympics and Paralympic Games and the ISSF World Cup. It currently offers a wide range of sports shooting disciplines that include rifl e, pistol, skeet and fi ve stand sporting clays. We are yet to receive a formal approach from the Federal Government on this matter, however, the Offi ce of Sport has met separately with representatives from the NSW Rifl e Association, Department of Finance (Commonwealth) and Senator Leyonhjelm's offi ce to discuss the operations and infrastructure at Sydney International Shooting Centre. I understand that Sydney International Shooting Centre is one of a number of sites that are currently being explored as a new location for the Malabar range. On the rumoured funding for ranges in Newcastle and Wollongong: The Offi ce of Sport is currently working with State Sporting Organisations (including shooting sports) and councils on the Future Needs of Sport Study. This initiative aims to: establish a database of sporting infrastructure in NSW by sport, Identify gaps in the provision of sporting infrastructure across the State and develop an assessment framework that will allow new projects to be prioritised. As this study is still underway no recommendations have yet been made. On support for former Prime Minister Howard's hard-line stance on gun owners and ownership: The NSW Government supports the 1996 National Firearms Agreement. On the upgrade of the NSW Firearm Registry's computer system: The Government has allocated over $5-million to upgrade the Registry's IT systems. On members concerns regarding the need to record personal details for ammunition purchases under the Ammunition Control Bill: Thanks for raising this point I will raise this with the Ministry of Police and Emergency Services to assess possible reform options. On the release of the outcome of Government's review of the Firearms Registry: I am told the Deloitte review of the NSW Police Force Registry was fi nalised early last year and is being used by the Force as a blueprint for the ongoing reform of the Firearms Registry IT systems and operations. As Minister, I will ask the Commissioner of Police to ensure the report's recommendations, together with updates on progress with the Registry reforms, are appropriately communicated to all stakeholders as part of the Registry's new stakeholder engagement strategy. On the review of the Firearms Regulation 2006: The review is underway. The Government is committed to further public consultation prior to the fi nalisation of the review. Minister Stuart Ayres with SSAA NSW Executive Director Diana Melham

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