AN increase in firearms licence fees of up to 147 per cent by the Department of Police could be removed by the Upper House this week.
Shooters and Fishers Party Upper House Member Rick Mazza was set to bring up a disallowance motion to stop drastic fee increases yesterday in State Parliament and put it to a vote in the House.
If successful it would be a major win for producers and farmers in WA.
On July 1, firearm licence application fees in some cases went up by 147.2pc, as part of the Police Department's plans to recoup costs.
But a recent report into the Firearms Amendment Regulations 2013 revealed the Police Department's methods in raising the fees were inefficient.
"Every cost counts for farmers," Mr Mazza said.
"We understand the issue of cost recovery but the unfortunate thing in this case is that we are looking at a massive increase in a government service of up to 147 per cent.
"The problem that we have is that it is actually a cost recovery of a very very inefficient department."
The report highlighted that a person with a firearms licence for one of more additional firearms would be forced to pay a new licence fee of $169.50.
An increase of 133.8pc from the previous licence fee of $72.50.
While that fee compared with other States such as NSW ($40) and Victoria ($9.20).
The licence fee is free in NSW for primary producers and pensioners.
Mr Mazza was amazed by the findings.
"In other States they have just a noting fee on their firearms licence because you have already been approved, but for some reason in WA you have to do an entire application every single time which goes through a very laborious process," he said.
The report also revealed that the process for firearms licence applications were completely inefficient (see graphic).
Under the current system, people who want to apply for a second or more firearm, need to go through the entire application process again, along with paying the same fee.
The report also showed that application information from Australia Post is then entered manually into the WA police system.
If mistakes as small as spelling mistakes occur during that process, the application needs to be undertaken and paid for again.
This adds more cost to the police department already under strain through lack of resources and adds cost to taxpayers.
Mr Mazza said it was clear the department needed to become more efficient.
"There are 82,500 firearms licence owners in WA and the problems that we have are that 82,500 people appear to be negligible," he said.
"But they are some of the most responsible people in the community.
"If police really want to combat firearms crime then they really need to target the illicit things.
"We have this situation in WA where we have a very onerous, cumbersome, inefficient system that is costing the community an enormous amount of money and it is a complete discrepancy to the same services in other States and we think it needs to be fixed.
"If it was train fares that had gone up 150pc or fishing licences, which have gone up 133pc, there would be an outcry, but I think the department thinks there is not much public sympathy for firearms licence holders and it has really just had contempt on them.
"But 82,500 people are a large proportion of the industry and largely those people are country people."
Mr Mazza was hopeful the vote would get up.
Liberal member for Southern River Peter Abetz who chaired the report said the positive which had come out of the report was that there was now a review of the Firearms Act.
"We have managed to expose how dysfunctional the system is," Mr Abetz said.
"The benefit of having the hearings by the Joint Standing Committee on Delegated Legislation is that it has now resulted in the Police Minister (Liza Harvey) announcing a review of the Firearms Act to be undertaken by the law reform commission.
"I am very hopeful this will result in a much more streamlined system that will benefit everybody and reduce the costs."
A spokesperson for Ms Harvey said the State Government had announced its intention to have the law reform commission review the Firearms Act 1973.
The spokesperson said the draft terms of reference were currently being developed and would be sent out to stakeholders shortly.
p To see the latest from the vote in the Upper House link to www.farmweekly.com.au