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Commissioner of Police Chester Williams only has a few days more signing gun licenses. That's after the senate today passed the Firearms Amendment Bill. This takes away the sole authority and discretion to issue gun licenses from the commissioner of police and vests it in a three person Firearms and Ammunition Control Board.
The new body comprises a magistrate, the police officer in charge of dangerous goods, and a CEO from one of the ministries.
The amendments come after an extensive 7News investigation which shows a gun licensing system rife with corruption and questionable issuances.
And while the bill appeared to have bipartisan support in the house, today in the Senate, Michael Peyrefitte said that it still left too much authority with the Minister:
The bill was passed and will now go to the Governor General for her assent.
