Industry News

Queensland Community Safety Bill

24th June 2024

Shooters Union Australia president Graham Park was interviewed by ABC Mackay yesterday, and explains that the shooting up there couldn't have been prevented by additional gun laws - seeing as the shooter previously had a licence and the police took it and his guns away for good reason - and that the shooting should also not be used as an excuse to push the Queensland Community Safety Bill through parliament either.

Australian Federal Firearms Register

23rd May 2024

The Federal Government has agreed to implement a National Firearms Register at a cost to the Australian taxpayer of $160m, and in doing so continues the habit of "being seen to be doing something, when in affect doing nothing at all" to stop illegal gun crime.

The various state firearm registries continue to be awash with problems, while the Queensland firearms registry is said to be “at the verge of collapse” due to poor investment and upgrading by the previous Palaszczuk State Government.

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New South Wales Parliamentary Friends of Shooting group formed

17th May 2024

In a state first initiative spearheaded by SIFA, the News South Wales Parliamentary ‘Friends of Shooting’ group has been formed.

The inaugural event, held at the Sydney International Shooting Centre, seen over 30 attendees and is seen as a positive step forward in building important relationships with NSW Politicians AND dispelling the myths around the shooting sports.

Western Australia Proposes Extreme Health Checks For Firearm Owners

4th April 2024

It's been reported in The West Australian Newspaper that the states gun owners will have to disclose if they have diabetes as part of the wide ranging firearm law reform.

WA's Police Minister, Paul Papalia said the new reforms will include a health assessment every five years where legal firearm owners will be required to 'tick a box' if they have such conditions as diabetes, heart disorders, sleep disorders, blood pressure or chest pain. He went on to say that "a health assessment working group, consisting of health experts, was responsible for the yet to be finalised criteria of the MANDATORY health assessment."

He went on to say that, "Health assessments will include both physical and mental health components that will consider a range of factors."

The health assessments would be "a staged process" that included self assessment and consultation with medical professionals.

The Hook N Bone Alliance of Australia has sent a letter to the WA Police Minister and The West Australian Newspaper demanding these health assessments be made mandatory for all WA Police and Emergency Service personnel, WA school teachers, WA Politicians, heavy vehicle operators and all health care professionals.

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SSAA NSW forewarns members of firearm license cancellations...

1st March 2024

As the roll of the NSW Firearms Registry Gunsafe programme is being prepared to capture all shooting and hunting clubs it will automatically inspect a members Genuine Reason IN REAL TIME.

The SSAA NSW has advised its members that if their club membership is allowed to expire than their NSW Firearms License will expire also!

This programme will be expanded to include ALL individual firearm owners.

While some States have mandatory attendance requirements for handguns, New South Wales is the only state that has mandatory attendance requirements for long-arms.

NSW Agriculture Minister, Tara Moriarty MLC, bans line fishing (no take) for Blue Groper

1st March 2024

Agriculture Minister Tara Moriarty MLC has banned line fishing for Blue Groper in a response to the illegal spearfishing of two Groper over the Christmas holidays.

Spearfishing for Blue Groper was banned in 1969 after recreational anglers, and spearfishermen, reported a decline in their numbers. A ban on commercial fishing for Blue Groper was introduced in 1980.

In the years following the ban on commercial fishing Groper numbers increased steadily and today they are in healthy numbers all along the east coast reef systems.

The Agriculture Ministers ban was without consultation with interest groups, was without any scientific fact or base-line data and was a decision based simply on “feelings.”

Spearfishing Blue Groper is a criminal act under fisheries regulations.

Past and present New South Wales Governments have made it a habit of banning and/or regulating the law abiding because of the actions of criminals, Tara Moriarty MLC has shown she is happy to continue this unfair practice.

The Minister has announced a 12-month consultation period (after the fact) but without any baseline data we ask what will the consultation results be based upon?

To voice your opposition to the Blue Groper line fishing ban, Tara Moriarty MLC can be contact on (0)2 7225 6120

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Hook N Bone Trading Co. appointed NSW Sales Agents for Pro-Tactical

4th March 2024

Pro-tactical appoints Hook N Bone Trading Co. as their New South Wales Sales agents ensuring first class representation of their extensive product range in New South Wales firearm stores.

The Pro-tactical product range includes time honoured and popular brands such as - Rigby, Purdey, Voere, Zastava, Pecar, LEE reloading, Napier, Ballistol, Boyds and Parker Hale.

Hook N Bone Trading Co. Director, Craig Golding, says "New South Wales shooters and hunters can expect to see these fantastic products appearing in stores within the coming weeks."

Hook N Bone Trading Co. are also New South Wales, Southeast Queensland and South Australian Sales Agents for Alcock and Pierce, Australia’s largest importer of archery gear, Weihrauch Rifles and H&N air rifle pellets.

Wholesale enquiries welcome.

South Australian Government pushes ahead to ban Compound Bows & Crossbows for hunting

5th March 2024

The South Australian Government announces its intention to move forward banning the use of bows and crossbows to hunt animals.

This ban comes about because of “community feedback” after several internet images showing animals with arrows stuck in them were circulated. Many if the images came into question as some of the arrows appeared not to have no fletching or points!

This has bought the authenticity of the images into question but not enough to stop the Government moving forward with the ban. Fines of up to $1000 will be imposed on anyone found hunting with a bow or crossbow.

There is no restriction however to owning a bow or crossbow which brings into questions how this ban will be policed on private property?

It is expected that the ban will come into force later in 2024.

South Australian Duck and Quail Season Announced

1st February 2024

A great win for hunters with the 2024 South Australian Duck and Quail seasons announced by Field & Game Australia.

Field & Game Australia commended the South Australian Government for their efforts in acknowledging and promoting sustainable hunting practices. “This season dates and regulations are testament to the importance of hunting in our community, and their endorsement of the scientific evidence supporting current game bird abundance.”

Duck season will commence on 16 March 2024 and conclude on 30 June 2024.

Quail season will commence on 27 April 2024 and conclude on 28 July 2024

2024 Victorian Duck Season

30th January 2024

Field & Game Australia made the announcement today that the 2024 Victorian Duck season will commence on April 10 2024, and conclude on June 5 2024.

This comes after a hard-fought battle against the Victorian Labor Government, the Animal Justice Party and extreme animal rights groups.

In the announcement, Field & Game Australia acknowledged everyone’s effort in this process including the support received from the ETU and other unions that stood in support of not only hunting but all outdoor recreational pursuits.

This is an excellent example of a hunting and shooting organisation that pulled out all the stops in support of its members. Its proof yet again of what can be achieved if we just pulled together. Well done Field & Game Australia

Western Australian Gun Law Changes

“Western Australia will become the first Australia jurisdiction to limit how many firearms a shooter can legally own, as the Labor Government dramatically re-writes gun laws to slash the number of LEGAL guns by one-third.”

In addition, numerous specific calibres have also been banned under the guise they are “too powerful” and have no genuine reason for ownership in WA.

Other changes to the gun laws include mandatory mental health checks for gun license applicants, annual health checks for law abiding firearm owners 80 years of age or older and an overhaul of the ‘genuine reason’ property letter system.

These changes were made without any ‘real’ consultation, will effectively destroy the WA firearms industry, and stands as proof yet again that without strong political representation law abiding firearm owners are just trading cards for Politicians and fake “public safety” shams.