$160m for Australia-wide gun register

The Albanese government is set to commit fresh funding to establish a National Firearms Register, a new countrywide database designed to bolster community safety, following the tragic Wieambilla shootings in 2022.

In the forthcoming federal budget, scheduled for May 14, $161.3m will be invested over four years to establish the register, with state and territory firearms management systems upgraded to be compliant with the new Commonwealth database.

The commitment follows an agreement, clinched by national cabinet in December, however the funding arrangements to implement the new program had become a sticking point for the reform to progress.

It is understood that South Australia, Tasmania, the Northern Territory and the ACT could each require as much as $30m to connect to a new federal database.

The tragic events at Wieambilla, Queensland in December 2022 was the catalyst for progressing the reform, which was originally recommended following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre response.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and neighbour Alan Dare were shot and killed by three Christian extremists, Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train, at a remote property 300km to Brisbane’s west.

One of the perpetrators was a licensed firearms holder.

The register will allow law enforcement to assess firearms risks by providing frontline police officers across the country with near real-time information on firearms, parts and owners.

Firearms information will also be linked to other relevant police and government information, including data from the National Criminal Intelligence System.

“Once established, police will know where firearms are, who owns them, and what other risks to the community and police may exist,” a statement released by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.

“The Australian government is committed to protecting the Australian community and ensuring Australia’s firearms laws remain among the most effective in the world.”