ANXIETY about gun activity at home and abroad shows the need for Tasmania to act swiftly on reforming its firearm laws, the State Government says.
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After failing to introduce its raft of firearm reforms last year, the Liberal Party’s measures are set to be tabled this month.
Dropping the shooting age, legalising paint balling and slapping mandatory sentences on people caught with stolen firearms are all among its proposed changes.
Premier Will Hodgman said it was crucial to cement gun law decisions and provide the public with certainty.
‘‘It was a subject the former government found impossible to progress, but it’s critically important that we have contemporary gun laws,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
‘‘It is sensitive but governments are elected to make decisions.’’
‘‘It’s important we do draw a line in the sand,’’ he said.
Tough laws threatening minimum jail time on people who attack paramedics, fire fighters and other emergency services workers are also expected to come before Parliament later this year.
The government last year succeeded in imposing minimum six-month sentences on people who inflict grievous bodily harm on police.
‘‘We’re serious about sending a strong message of low tolerance, zero tolerance, in areas where there are public expectations that police officers, for example, be protected,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
‘‘We’ll look at other ways where strengthening legal frameworks and penalties available to courts might help make Tasmania a safer place.’’
Suspended sentences, which the government often describes as ‘‘inherently flawed’’, will remain in use until at least the end of this year.
Mr Hodgman has indicated he is willing to consider permanently banning tobacco sales to anyone born after the year 2000.
The possible world-first measure will be debated in the Legislative Council later this month and may then come to the House of Assembly.
‘‘I think most people would want to know that government and the community are taking steps to reduce the incidence of any practice that causes poor health outcomes,’’ Mr Hodgman said.
‘‘We need to be open to people’s ideas but we also need to understand what’s practically deliverable to secure those health outcomes.’’
