Firearms

The Nationals stand with and support law-abiding firearm owners.

Australia has more than one million licensed firearm owners – farmers, sporting shooters, hunters, recreational users, Olympians – who follow the rules and use their firearms responsibly.

Australia already has some of the toughest firearms’ laws in the world.

We do not support laws that restrict firearm use further at the expense of people who have done nothing wrong:

• We oppose the Albanese Government’s push for a national buy-back, and we will repeal Labor’s unfair gun laws
• We will fight to stop the Federal Government confiscating guns without “just terms” compensation which every Australian knows is their constitutional right
• We will fight against new restrictions on the importation of firearms and ammunition that were rushed through the Parliament in the wake of the Bondi massacre
• We oppose further limits on the number of firearms per individual, restrictions on license types, and bans on common types of firearms

The Albanese Government’s firearm laws were a deflection from the real cause of the atrocity – radical Islamic terrorism, and the findings of potential gaps between our law enforcement agencies, which are being examined by the Royal Commission.

The fact is the perpetrators of the Bondi massacre should never have had access to a firearm in the first place.

Law-abiding firearm owners bear no responsibility for Bondi, and they should not be punished as though they do.

• Australia’s population has grown by around 50 per cent since 1996, while the number of registered firearms has grown by only 20 per cent.
• The rise in legally held firearms reflects the legitimate and diverse needs of owners: different shooting disciplines require different equipment; the fact that many Australians enjoy their sports, others rely on firearms as essential working tools and that hunters harvest organic sustainable meat for their families as a cultural practise.

We do not just talk about this; we back it up with votes

The Nationals have voted against bad legislation – our representatives in state and territory parliaments have voted against legislation to restrict gun ownership, and in some cases have improved very bad legislation.

In the Federal Parliament, the Nationals led the charge against the Albanese Government’s firearms legislation, moved critical amendments, and pressured the government to making necessary changes.

The Nationals established the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting, giving the shooting community a formal and respected voice in federal parliament.

• The economic, environmental and social case for supporting the shooting community is clear, and it was the Nationals who made sure it was properly documented. The Economic and Social Impacts of Recreational Hunting Report, commissioned by Senator Bridget McKenzie and delivered because of a Nationals’ election commitment, found that recreational hunters and shooters contributed more than $2.4 billion to the Australian economy in 2019. Plus, they made a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of participants. The report even found that hunters and shooters were more likely to meet recommended physical activity levels than the average Australian adult.
• Sporting shooters and clubs operate under some of the strictest licensing and safety standards in the world, and their contribution to regional towns, socially and economically, is substantial.
• Shooting is a sport that is enjoyed regardless of gender, age, or physical ability, and has mental and physical benefits.
• Shooters also help the environment by reducing the number of exotic pests, including rabbits, foxes, pigs, and goats.

Australians cheer loudly when our Olympic shooters win medals on the world stage.

They should not have to do so under a government that makes it harder to train, compete and participate.

Young Australians need to be able to safely participate, and learn how to train and love the sport, just as they would in other sports.

Our approach focuses on cracking down on the criminal misuse of firearms through stronger action on illegal trafficking, better intelligence sharing between jurisdictions, and more effective law enforcement cooperation, while streamlining licensing, storage, and compliance requirements for responsible owners.

The Nationals pledge is to restore commonsense to Australia’s firearms laws.

Repealing the Albanese Government’s Gun Laws

The Nationals in government will repeal the Albanese Government’s firearms laws. These laws were rushed, unfair, and punished law-abiding Australians for crimes they did not commit.

• We will repeal the import restrictions on firearms and ammunition rushed through Parliament in the wake of the Bondi tragedy.
• We will reverse new restrictions on licence types, firearm numbers per individual, and bans on common firearms.
• We will repeal Australia’s restrictions on suppressors – a common-sense hearing protection device widely used in comparable countries including New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and across Europe. Suppressors assist in making wildlife management more effective by reducing the disturbance and stress caused to non-targeted wildlife, and often resulting in more targeted species being successfully and humanely managed. Suppressors protect shooter health, reduce noise pollution, and there is no evidence their legal ownership increases risk to public safety.

Requiring Banks to Lend to Legal Businesses

The Nationals are deeply concerned by the growing practice of financial institutions refusing to provide banking and lending services to lawful firearm-related businesses – including gun shops, ammunition retailers, shooting ranges, and manufacturers – on ideological grounds.

• We will fight to prevent banks and financial institutions from discriminating against legal businesses operating in the firearms and outdoor recreation sectors.
• A business that operates lawfully under Australian law has the right to access financial services. Banks must not be permitted to act as de facto regulators of lawful industries.

Public Land Access for Hunters

Hunters and shooters contribute to the Australian economy and play a vital role in pest and exotic animal control across regional Australia. Yet access to public land for hunting continues to be restricted and inconsistent across jurisdictions.

• The Nationals will work with the states and territories to expand and formalise public land access arrangements for licensed hunters.
• We will advocate for consistent national standards for public land hunting that recognise the positive environmental and economic contribution of recreational hunters.
• Hunters provide an essential service in controlling exotic animals including pigs, deer, goats, and foxes – which cause enormous damage to farmland, native ecosystems, and livestock – and should be supported, not obstructed.
• In addition, shooters have rights to harvest food from our shared natural resource.

Supporting Australian Sovereign Manufacturing Capability

Australia’s national security and defence preparedness depend on a robust domestic manufacturing capability. The Nationals believe Australia must reduce its reliance on foreign supply chains for critical defence inputs.

We will support the establishment and growth of Australian manufacturing across the full spectrum of defence capability, including:

• Firearms – including complete weapons systems, barrels, receivers, trigger assemblies, stocks and other components.
• Ammunition – covering the full production chain including projectiles, casings, propellant powder, and primers.
• Suppressors – manufactured domestically following the repeal of current restrictions.
• Drones and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) – including airframes, flight control systems, electronic speed controllers, battery and power systems, GPS and communications systems, and payload integration for both civilian and defence applications.

The Nationals will:

• Provide targeted investment and industry support to establish and grow sovereign manufacturing capability in firearms, ammunition and defence-related technologies.
• Work with Australian defence industry partners to develop local supply chains that reduce dependence on imports for critical defence inputs.
• Support the development of an Australian drone and UAV manufacturing sector servicing both defence and civilian markets, including agriculture, surveying, search and rescue, and environmental monitoring.
• Ensure Australian manufacturing jobs in the defence and outdoor recreation sectors are supported by appropriate government procurement, research and development incentives, and skills training programs.
• Develop a long-term Sovereign Defence Manufacturing Strategy that positions Australia as a capable and resilient nation.

The Nationals stand for commonsense, for the regions, and for every law-abiding Australian who deserves to be treated with fairness and respect – not suspicion.