South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas has assured gun lobbyists that he has no plans to tighten firearm laws in the state, despite agreeing to a national crackdown after the Bondi beach massacre. In a letter dated 21 February, seen by Guardian Australia, Malinauskas told the Sporting Shooters' Association of Australia that the state government currently has no plans to amend firearm laws.
This stance represents a setback for Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's push for uniform nationwide gun control reform, as more states backtrack on commitments made at national cabinet. The agreement, reached after 15 people were killed in a shooting at a Hanukah event in Bondi beach on 14 December, included caps on the number of firearms a person could own.
Malinauskas had previously argued that South Australia's firearms laws were the toughest in the country but indicated a willingness to strengthen them further. However, in the letter, he stated that South Australia already has some of the strictest and most comprehensive firearms laws, designed to protect the community while recognising responsible gun owners.
The premier left the door open to future changes but said any consideration of new laws would be approached carefully and based on evidence. When asked for clarification this week, Malinauskas reiterated that any amendments would need to be grounded in evidence and thought through carefully.
The federal government had hoped states would pass laws by 1 July, but progress has been uneven. New South Wales passed new gun laws before Christmas, including a cap on firearms per person, while Queensland recently passed laws restricting ownership to Australian citizens but without caps. Tasmania also opposes caps but faces pressure from the opposition and its own police commissioner.
Stephen Bendle, convener of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, expressed hope that Malinauskas's position would shift after the state election, which Labor is expected to win. He urged South Australia to listen to the community rather than the commercial interests of the gun lobby.
