SSAA NSW

8 Sporting Shooters Association of Australia (NSW) Inc. SSAA NSW spoke to the Hon Rick Colless MLC, the NSW National Party spokesperson for firearms who was also representing the Deputy Premier and Member for Dubbo, Hon Troy Grant MP. On the National Party's policy on firearms ownership and the shooting sports: Our most fundamental commitment to your readers is to be the most effective voice for firearms owners within the Coalition Government. With our heritage as a farmers' party, our members have been impacted by every change to firearms laws since 1996. While I can't say we've won every debate on every issue in the Cabinet or in the Joint Party Room, we've always advocated for laws that do not impact on the ability of farmers to earn a living, or sporting shooters to practice their sport. On the significant lack of range facilities in the Sydney, Newcastle and Illawarra: The NSW Liberals & Nationals have the state's budget under control after 16 years of incompetence by the previous Government. As a strong partner within a strong Government, the NSW Nationals have secured a better deal for regional NSW. For example, 30% of our infrastructure fund has been quarantined and is now being spent on new hospitals, roads, water security and other infrastructure projects in the regions. The NSW Nationals look forward to continuing to work with SSAA NSW on its facilities plan, with a particular focus on regional NSW. On the Ammunition Control Bill: The Ammunition Control Bill was the subject of much debate within the Coalition, the Parliament and the broader community. While the reform was well-meaning, the devil was in the detail. The NSW Nationals argued that only the licence number should be recorded by firearms dealers. We also worked with the Minister responsible for the planning of a secure, web-based Firearms Registry access system. On implementation of formal consultation mechanisms with representatives of the industry and sport: While our informal relationships with representatives of shooters across the state have served us well to date, I agree that we could do more, particularly with a number of major reviews on the way. The NSW Nationals are looking forward to continuing our consultative relationship with SSAA NSW and other representative bodies as part of our own party's Firearms Working Group. On a National Firearms Registry and the National Firearms Agreement 1996: With our heritage as a farmers' party, our members have been impacted by every change to firearms laws since 1996. Legal firearms owners are not the problem - it's the illegals. Quite simply we do not support any further amendments to firearms laws which adversely impact on legitimate primary producers or sporting shooters. NSW Nationals Party Hon Rick Colless MLC Like our Facebook page and keep up with the latest: www.facebook.com/ssaansw

• Cover