We are delivering nation-leading penalties to keep guns out of the hands of criminals and terrorists, in the next steps of reforms to make Queensland safer tabling legislation next week.
The suite of strengthened powers target terrorists and criminals, including nation-leading penalties for illegal firearms, drive-by shootings at places of worship, emerging threats such as 3D-printed weapons, and are the next step in the Crisafulli Government’s calm and methodical response to the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The Bill includes:
- Increased penalties for trafficking firearms or ammunition, increasing the maximum penalty to a nation-leading life imprisonment;
- Strengthened police powers to disrupt illegal firearm trafficking;
- A new offence prohibiting the reckless discharge of a weapon towards a building or vehicle to crackdown on the rise in drive-by shootings, including those targeting places of worship, and;
- Expanded powers for Police to consider a broader range of matters when determining weapons licence eligibility, including any history of violence, threatened violence or weapons-related offending;
- New requirements for Queensland weapons licence holders to be Australian citizens subject to limited exceptions;
- A new offence prohibiting the possession and distribution of blueprints for 3D-printed
The new legislation is about drawing a clear line and making Queensland safer – these laws are tough, targeted, and focused on criminals and terrorists.
These nation-leading penalties are for the misuse of firearms, while equipping police with modern tools to combat organised crime and extremism and ensuring criminals and terrorists with guns face the toughest consequences possible.
We are giving police stronger powers to stop illegal firearms from entering our communities and strengthening the laws that determine who is fit and proper to hold a weapons licence.
These laws are squarely aimed at terrorists, criminals and organised crime syndicates, not law-abiding Queenslanders, as we continue to make Queensland safer.
