SSAA NSW has adopted a ‘two-pronged’ approach in response to the current review of the National Firearms Agreement (NFA) which incorporates both State and National based elements.
To date, information gleaned from the Government indicates that the review will focus on the technical elements of the NFA to ensure it remains current with ‘advancements in technology and changes in the firearms market’. The NFA Review stems from a recommendation of the Martin Place Siege Review.
SSAA National, in consultation with the State and Territory SSAA bodies, has been proactively representing the interests of its 170,000 plus SSAA members at the Federal level. Recently, the Minister for Justice announced the establishment of an Industry Reference Group to advise the Government on the NFA Review. SSAA National has been given a seat at the table and the first meeting of the Group was held on Wednesday.
The NFA Review has invited SSAA National to provide feedback via a submission. SSAA National is currently developing a submission and as part of the process have been requesting information and input from the SSAA State and Territory bodies. SSAA NSW has been actively engaging with National on this.
At the State level, SSAA NSW is meeting with State politicians as well as those Federal politicians who represent NSW seats and jurisdictions. SSAA NSW will continue to pursue all avenues for consultation to ensure our views and feedback are considered at the NSW State level and ultimately to the Review on behalf of our State.
SSAA NSW is currently developing its own submission which focusses on the impact of the NFA on firearms legislation in NSW and ultimately the enjoyment of our sport. This will be presented to various NSW Government and NSW politicians to ensure that the views of SSAA NSW and its members are widely known.
To enable us to accurately and adequately represent our members, we are encouraging members to provide written feedback.
Responses should focus on how the resolutions of the NFA and resulting NSW firearms legislation have negatively impacted on the sport but done nothing to enhance or support public safety. For your reference, click here to view a copy of the NFA which contains details of the eleven resolutions.
Written responses should be emailed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by 23 September at the very latest to ensure that they can be reviewed and incorporated into the SSAA NSW submission which can then be presented to the various stakeholders in a timely fashion. Feedback will also be utilised in any response that SSAA NSW submits following the release of the Review outcomes.
SSAA NSW has been, and will continue to work with SSAA National to ensure their representations at the Federal level incorporates the issues of concern to SSAA NSW, its members and law abiding firearms licence holders in NSW.
Please click here to read the 2012-2013 NSW Government's Public Benefit Assessment of Game Council NSW.
As members would be aware, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell recently made the decision to disband the NSW Game Council and suspend all hunting on public lands.
This has come as a bitter shock and disappointment to the thousands of safe, responsible and ethical conservation hunters who controlled feral pests in our State Forests at no cost to the Government.
SSAA NSW is urging ALL members - whether they are target shooters, hunters or both - to contact their local MP and express their disappointment at this decision.
It's important that we tell MPs that conservation hunters play a significant role in preserving our natural environment from feral pests.
Here's a checklist to make sure your letter gets noticed:
Marcus O'Dean from Sporting Shooter Magazine wrote an excellent article outlining some of the key points to make in your letter. To read Marcus's article please click here.
Other information you may want to check out is the Dunn Report. You can also read the Minister's Media Release here
Finally, if you haven't done so already, please sign the petition Barry O'Farrell stop your attack on law abiding hunters
The 2013 Federal Election is an opportunity for licensed, law-abiding firearm owners to ask questions of the candidates about their stance on firearms related issues that are important to you and your family.
SSAA NSW has compiled a list of the candidates from the main parties who will be contesting the 2013 electorate and encourages all members to make contact to let them know that protecting the rights of firearm owners is an important issue to you. You can download the list by clicking here
If you are unsure which electorate you live in, please use the Find My Electorate tool on the AEC website.
The Sporting Shooters Association of Australia have protected shooters rights since 1948.
We are the largest and most active supporter of both the shooting sports and hunting in New South Wales with over 43,000 members at present and a membership goal to reach 60,000 members by the end of 2014.
As the State's largest organisation supporting licensed, law abiding firearm owners we will work with all levels of Government to get a fair go for law abiding shooters.
But our large membership base also offers us an opportunity to get our members involved in the campaign to protect the future of our sport.
With new technologies such as email, Facebook and Twitter our elected representatives have never been more accessible and it's important that they recognise that there are hundreds, in some case thousands of licensed firearm owners in their electorates. There is no better way to do this than for members to get involved in the process. And there is no better time than now.
Shooting is a safe, fun and unique sport. It's an Olympic sport. And it's YOUR sport.
The SSAA NSW Action Centre will allow you to stay up to date with the latest issues affecting your sport, and provide suggestions on what members can do to ensure that the shooting sports continue to thrive.
Kind regards,
Diana Melham
Executive Director SSAA NSW
