AgForce remains firm on need for concealable firearms

Mr Byrne told Parliament he did not accept the idea that a pistol was a legitimate agricultural tool, in response to a question without notice from Member for Mount Isa, Rob Katter, who asked why licences for category H weapons were being denied.

Weapons Licencing Branch Sergeant Steve Steenstrup has since confirmed that, based on a judgement in the Queensland Civil and Administrative Tribunal in June 2014, primary producers would find it hard to obtain a licence for the humane destruction of animals.

At that time, the tribunal upheld the Weapons Licencing Branch’s decision to refuse John James Shaxson a category H weapons licence, ruling that he had other weapons, rifles and shotguns, that were adequate to euthanase trapped wild dogs.

“You have to prove that you have a need and that it can’t be met by any other weapon,” Sergeant Steenstrup said.

AgForce spokesman Graham Park has fired back at this, saying the Queensland Weapons Act makes provision for primary producers and licenced pest controllers to use category H weapons in the course of their duties.

“There appears to be an agenda within Weapons Licencing to prohibit all occupational uses of category H firearms,” he said.

“We’ll be supporting all members who feel they’ve been treated unfairly, on an individual basis, and we urge them to contact us if this is the case.”

Mr Park said the issue could be debated through the proposed weapons advisory forum, but details were still thin on the ground about its makeup.

While the forum has been announced, its membership, terms of reference and date for a meeting remain unknown.