Gun News Australia: the latest news for Aussie shooters

"CONNECT THE GUNS": … but where's the evidence?

THREE YEARS AGO Western Australian shooters found themselves at the centre of the “Connect the Guns” controversy. Maps showing where firearm owners live were published across the state and public safety concerns were cited as part of the broader debate surrounding firearms reform. Gun News Australia recently lodged a Freedom of Information request seeking documents relating to firearms stolen from licensed owners before and after the maps were stolen to see what the actual level of firearm theft was. The response we received did not conclude that such incidents never occurred. Nor did it make any finding about the overall impact of firearm theft. However, WA Police advised that no documents could be located within the scope of the request. That raises an important question. If firearm theft and criminal misuse were significant factors in the push for major legislative change, where is the documented evidence supporting those claims? In this episode we revisit the original “Connect the Guns” article, examine the concerns raised by shooters at the time, review the FOI response, and discuss why evidence matters when governments seek major changes to public policy. If you'd like to support more FOI work, investigations and accountability reporting, consider joining our email list and supporting Gun News Australia through Patreon. #GunNewsAustralia #WesternAustralia #FirearmsLaw #FOI #FreedomOfInformation #PaulPapalia #LicensedShooters #PublicSafety #FirearmsPolicy #GunLaws

Who Asked for This? Victoria's New Gun Laws and the Committee That Wasn't Consulted

THE VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT has introduced new firearms legislation that could significantly affect licensed shooters across the state. But before debating the details of the legislation itself, there is another question that deserves attention: who was actually consulted before these changes were announced? In this episode of Gun News Australia, we examine the new Firearms Amendment Bill, the role of Victoria's Firearms Consultative Committee, and reports that committee members were not provided with details of the proposals before they were announced publicly. Once again, licensed shooters appear to have been placed in a position of responding to proposals rather than helping shape them before they are announced. This is more than a pattern: it’s deliberate. We discuss why consultation matters, and why governments should be expected to explain both the problem they are trying to solve and the evidence supporting any new restrictions. As Victoria heads towards a state election, shooters should be asking a simple question: if consultation structures already exist, why weren't they used? #GunNewsAustralia #FirearmsPolicy #GunLaws #LicensedShooters #VictorianPolitics #GovernmentAccountability #FirearmsConsultativeCommittee #PublicPolicy #PoliticalTransparency #ShootersRights

Victorian Shooters Are Facing Another Political Fight | Danny Ryan

THE VICTORIAN Government has announced another round of firearms law changes, while anti-duck hunting activists continue to push for further restrictions on hunting and shooting activities across the state. In this episode of Gun News Australia, we sit down with Danny Ryan, President of Sporting Clays Victoria, to discuss the growing political pressure facing licensed shooters and hunters in Victoria. We examine the shady role of the Animal Justice Party, the campaign against duck hunting, and ask where they're getting their significant funding war chest from. We also discuss how firearms policy is increasingly being announced through media releases and political staging, often before shooters have had an opportunity to see the detail or have meaningful input into the process. What evidence is driving these proposals? What problem is the government trying to solve? And what should shooters be demanding from politicians before any further restrictions are introduced? With Victoria heading towards a state election, these questions are becoming increasingly important for licensed shooters, hunters and sporting participants across the state. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. #GunNewsAustralia #DannyRyan #DuckHunting #AnimalJusticeParty #VictorianPolitics #FirearmsLaw #GunLaws #LicensedShooters #Hunting #Victoria

The One Thing Politicians Fear More Than Court Challenges

FOR DECADES, licensed shooters have found themselves fighting the same battles over and over again. A new restriction is proposed. Organisations mobilise. Submissions are written. Legal challenges are considered. Campaigns are launched. Sometimes we win. Sometimes we lose. Then a few years later, the entire process starts again. But what if we've been approaching the problem the wrong way? In this episode of Gun News Australia, we look at a different way of thinking about firearms advocacy. Instead of focusing solely on stopping the next restriction, buyback or regulatory change after it has already been proposed, we examine how licensed shooters can influence the political environment before those proposals ever reach the table. We discuss why politicians respond to incentives, why elections matter more than many people realise, and why becoming a recognised voting bloc may be the most effective long-term strategy available to licensed shooters. This isn't a discussion about one specific policy proposal. It's a discussion about how lasting political change actually occurs, and what it would take for governments to start viewing firearms policy through a different lens. Can licensed shooters become a genuine political force in Australia, or are we destined to keep fighting the same battles one regulation at a time? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. If you'd like to support independent firearms policy analysis, please consider supporting Gun News Australia through Buy Me a Coffee or Patreon. #GunNewsAustralia #AustralianPolitics #FirearmsPolicy #LicensedShooters #ShootingSports #ElectionStrategy #PoliticalAdvocacy #GunLawsAustralia #ShootingCommunity #AustralianElections

GUN REPORT RECOMMENDS FEES HIKE: Report paves way for Allan Government to jack up gun licence fees

WE SPEAK WITH Sean Fraser to dissect the recently released Ken Lay Rapid Review into Victoria’s firearm laws. The Victorian Government has accepted 15 out of 16 recommendations, paving the way for sweeping administrative shifts that directly target licensed Victorian shooters. We break down the deliberately laid "landmines" hidden in this report, including the open ended definitions of "high-risk" firearms, and permit fee increases that will force Victorian shooters to pay more under the Allan Labor Government. From bans targeting non-citizen shooters to the further fragmentation of the National Firearms Agreement, we look at the hard facts. Our community faces an uphill battle as state-specific registries push restrictive agendas that ignore 130 years of established firearm technology. We cut through the political rhetoric to ensure grassroots shooting sports participants stay informed, unified, and equipped to protect our sport.   See the full gun law review report at: https://files.justice.vic.gov.au/2026-05/Rapid-Review-Victoria-Firearm-Laws.pdf [https://files.justice.vic.gov.au/2026-05/Rapid-Review-Victoria-Firearm-Laws.pdf] See the state government’s response at: https://files.justice.vic.gov.au/2026-05/Rapid-Review-Victoria-Firearm-Laws-Government-Response.pdf -------------------------------------------------------------- JOIN US ON PATREON Join our Patreon channel and get our episodes before they are released more widely at:  https://www.patreon.com/c/gunnewsaustralia/membership [https://www.patreon.com/c/gunnewsaustralia/membership] -------------------------------------------------------------- DONATE NOW – and support our work You can back our work by donating at https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/ [https://politicsreloaded.com/donate/] OR you can ‘buy me a coffee’ in support, at https://buymeacoffee.com/gunnewsaustralia [https://buymeacoffee.com/gunnewsaustralia] #AustralianShooters #ShootingSports #FirearmsLegislation #GunLawsAU #LAFO #AussieShooters #SportShootingAU