Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced the creation of a National Firearms Register to plug gaps in Australia’s existing gun regulations.
The national cabinet agreed to implement a national firearms register in 2023, delivering on an outstanding reform from the National Firearms Agreement in 1996.
The murder of two police officers in 2022 highlighted a problem with the existing regime. Queensland Police was unable to access information that Nathaniel Train held a firearms licence in NSW
Following the two murders, the Queensland Police Union argued that the Australian Firearms Information Network (AFIN) did not currently collect all data points, affecting the ability of officers to assess risk from suspects.
The AFIN system does not provide real-time data and has gaps in coverage because not all states use or contribute data, and the data that exists relies on different definitions, licensing rules and restrictions.
Now, Dreyfus has committed $161.3 million over four years to establish a cross-jurisdictional register, allowing law enforcement faster and more accurate information about gun ownership.
The register will be a federated model, drawing information from existing firearms registries, portals and management systems.
It replaces the AFIN currently operated by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission.
“The National Firearms Register will allow law enforcement to assess firearms risks by Providing frontline police officers with near real-time information on firearms, parts, and owners and Linking firearms information with other relevant police and government information, including information from the National Criminal Intelligence System,” Dreyfus said.
“Once established, police will know where firearms are, who owns them, and what other risks to the community and police may exist.”
Advocates have welcomed the changes as a “monumental win for community safety”, saying unified data would save lives.
Australia has approximately 900,000 registered firearm owners, and 4 million registered civilian firearms.
The government will continue to consult on the register through the implementation process.
ACIC said in March work on enhanced data sharing was already underway.
READ MORE:
