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Firearms Policy and Animal Welfare Outcomes in NSW

Another email sent off today, this time directed to Animal Justice Party MP Emma Hurst. A copy is attached below.

Dear Emma Hurst MP,

In the wake of the Bondi beach terrorist attack, the Labor Party has announced its intention to further tighten firearms laws in NSW. This proposal comes despite well-documented failures within the NSW Firearms Registry and broader national security frameworks to identify and prevent an attack that, in hindsight, was plainly preventable.

Given your party’s stated focus on animal welfare outcomes, I am seeking clarity on how these proposed reforms would be justified in the context of legal firearms ownership – particularly as it relates to ethical hunting and pest management.

Specifically:

  • Will you be supporting increased restrictions on legal firearms ownership in NSW?
  • If so, how will animal welfare outcomes be balanced against those restrictions? In the context of lawful hunting, licensed firearm owners utilise a range of firearms suited to different game species to ensure humane, efficient harvests. Proposals such as limiting owners to three firearms or fewer risk undermining this principle and may inadvertently increase animal suffering.
  • If the ultimate objective is the elimination of lawful hunting activities, how will this be reconciled with the cultural rights of Indigenous Australians to hunt, particularly with respect to access to appropriate equipment?

I would appreciate your response to these questions.

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