Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has announced major gun law reforms aimed at cracking down on gun crime, including plans to restrict weapons ownership to Australian citizens and increase penalties for drive-by shootings.
Under the proposed changes, courts would be able to impose tougher sentences when firearm offences are linked to extremist or terrorist motivations.
The government will also make it illegal to possess a blueprint to create a 3D-printed gun.
The Premier said the new legislation was about drawing a clear line and making Queensland safer.
“We said we would go after criminals and terrorists, and through this strong reform, we are delivering exactly what we promised,” he said.
“These laws are tough, targeted, and focused on criminals and terrorists as we work to make Queensland safer.”
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Minister for Police and Emergency Services Dan Purdie said the reforms would deliver nation-leading penalties for the misuse of firearms, while equipping police with modern tools to combat organised crime and extremism.
“This Bill is about making Queensland safer by ensuring criminals and terrorists with guns face the toughest consequences possible,” he said.
“We are giving police stronger powers to stop illegal firearms from entering our communities and strengthening the laws that determine who is fit and proper to hold a weapons licence.
“These reforms also target the alarming rise in drive-by shootings, including those targeting places of worship, and crackdown on emerging threats like 3D-printed firearms.
“These laws are squarely aimed at terrorists, criminals and organised crime syndicates, not law-abiding Queenslanders, as we continue to make Queensland safer.”
The Bill introduced to parliament includes:
- Increased penalties for trafficking firearms or ammunition, increasing the maximum penalty to a nation-leading life imprisonment;
- Strengthened police powers to disrupt illegal firearm trafficking;
- A new offence prohibiting the reckless discharge of a weapon towards a building or vehicle to crackdown on the rise in drive-by shootings, including those targeting places of worship;
- Expanded powers for policeto consider a broader range of matters when determining weapons licence eligibility, including any history of violence, threatened violence or weapons-related offending;
- New requirements for Queensland weapons licence holders to be Australian citizens subject to limited exceptions;
- A new offenceprohibiting the possession and distribution of blueprints for 3D-printed firearms.
