The Western Australian government has extended an olive branch to firearm owners the day after new gun control laws took effect. Months after promising there would be no further buybacks, the government's offering a third round to help owners adapt to the changes.
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00:00Striking a conciliatory tone in his first media conference as police minister.
00:08I want to apologise for the inconvenience and the trouble we are putting responsible gun owners to.
00:14A marked change of tone from his predecessor after months of confusion over the rollout of WA's new gun laws,
00:21which the government says put a greater focus on community safety.
00:26Eight months ago the plan was for a single buyback for people who'd have to give up their guns.
00:32They will lose their firearms at the end of this process and they won't get a buyback after the buyback ends.
00:38Then came another specifically for firearms dealers.
00:42We acknowledge many of these businesses are in possession of surplus stock.
00:46Now a third buyback's been announced aimed at gun owners who won't be licensed under the new laws but might not have realised it yet.
00:54This is complex legislation, it's a big body of work.
00:58I'm sure a lot of Western Australian firearm owners are wondering if this is an April Fool's joke by the Western Australian government.
01:03The National's leader suggesting the government's priorities have shifted after the election.
01:08Four years out to the next election we can see some sensible and predictable government.
01:14We're not above changing, making alterations or a change here and there when there are practical good reasons to do so.
01:22Farmer and firearms owner Mark Adams hopes that includes clearer communication.
01:26He says he was confused by what he was told about rapid release guns which many only realised had been outlawed after the second buyback closed.
01:35He's welcomed another round of compensation.
01:38It goes to show that obviously everyone didn't hand their guns in yesterday.
01:41So there's guns out there that people are still confused with what's going on.
01:47We'll provide one-on-one specific advice and instructions on how many firearms you're entitled to hold under the new laws, the storage requirements and so on.
01:55That process will play out as licences are renewed over the next 12 months.