Queensland Premier David Crisafulli has doubled down on the state’s refusal to participate in a national gun buyback scheme after the prime minister called on him to justify his position.
Mr Crisafulli told the media on Wednesday morning that a gun buyback “doesn’t address antisemitism and hate and it doesn’t focus on keeping guns out of the hands of terrorists and criminals”.
Earlier that morning, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese had said that Mr Crisafulli’s position wasn’t “in the interests of Queenslanders or the nation”.
In a late-night sitting on Tuesday evening in Canberra, the federal government passed new laws targeting hate groups and paved the way for the national gun buyback scheme.
A sample of some of the guns returned during Western Australia’s state buybacks in recent years. (ABC News: Keane Bourke)
The buyback, and stricter firearm controls, are part of legislation currently being debated in federal parliament, with the government separating the changes from the hate speech reforms.
The prime minister announced his intention to tighten gun laws after the Bondi beach attack on 14 December, in which two attackers killed 15 people at Hanukkah celebrations.
Mr Crisafulli said new state legislation would be introduced in the first sitting of the Queensland parliament in February, which would focus on the “cause of the issue”.
“Our response is going to focus on the heart of the issue,” he said.
“Antisemitism, hatred and guns in the hands of terrorists and criminals.”
The premier said he had asked state Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and Police Minister Dan Purdie to work on the proposed legislation.
“I want Queenslanders to know that this is being dealt with in a very calm and considered way,” he said.
Anthony Albanese said he had a “constructive” discussion with the Queensland premier, but respectfully disagreed with his position. (ABC News)
Queensland has the second-highest rate of gun ownership in the country.
Asked how a national gun buyback scheme could be effective without Queensland’s participation, the prime minister said that was a question for Queensland.
“I disagree with his position, respectfully, and I don’t think it’s in the interest of Queenslanders or the nation to not have national uniform laws,” Mr Albanese said.
He added that he met with Premier Crisafulli last week and had a “constructive” discussion about the legislation.
Further asked whether the federal government would help states pay to administer the national gun buyback scheme Mr Albanese said that was a matter for Queensland.
“There’s nothing unusual about states saying that they want everyone else to pay but themselves for things … I encourage states and territories to support this,” he said.
Mr Crisafulli said Queenslanders would see a “big contrast to what they’ve witnessed in Canberra”.
“I want Queenslanders to know that this is being dealt with in a very calm and considered way,” he said.