WAFarmers President Steve McGuire today sent the following letter to the Minister for Police, Hon Reece Whitby MLA.
Hon Reece Whitby MLA
Minister for Police
By email: [email protected]
Dear Minister,
RE: IMPLEMENTATION OF IMMEDIATE ADMINISTRATIVE IMPROVEMENTS UNDER THE FIREARMS ACT 2024 AND ASSOCIATED REGULATIONS
I write following the release of the Standing Committee on Legislation Report No. 51 – Firearms Act 2024 with the support of the WA Firearms Community Alliance.
The Committee’s report provides a number of valuable opportunities for the Government to address several long-standing operational concerns raised by both the primary producer and firearms communities.
We acknowledge the intent of the new legislative framework is to improve safety and transparency. However, the report makes it clear that substantial administrative and communication failures have created confusion, delay, frustration and compliance uncertainty for responsible firearm owners across the State.
Importantly, the Committee identified a series of positive changes that can be implemented immediately – without reopening the Act. Making these changes would deliver quick ‘wins’ for government, helping to rebuild confidence among recreational, sporting, and primary producer firearm users.
1. Firearms Licensing for Primary Producers
The Committee recognised the uncertainty surrounding Primary Producer Licences (PPLs), particularly for co-owners, partners, trustees, and directors involved in the management of farm enterprises.
We therefore strongly recommend that WAPOL Licensing immediately publish clear written guidance confirming:
- each co-owner or director actively involved in farm operations can apply for their own PPL,
- multiple PPLs can be issued for the same property and enterprise, and
- a PPL can list multiple properties under a single business entity or ABN.
These clarifications would resolve current confusion and align administrative practice with the intent of the legislation.
2. Administrative and communication fixes
We strongly support the Committee’s recommendations for the immediate:
- publication of plain-language information sheets and a hardcopy handbook,
- confirmation of the development and implementation of a regional education program for the Wheatbelt, Goldfields, Pilbara, and Kimberley regions, and
- commitment to create a dedicated transition support team to address widely reported issues with the online Firearms Portal and MyID integration.
These measures can be implemented through ministerial direction using existing agency resources and would directly address some of our most urgent concerns.
3. Health, storage, and pest control guidance
The Committee also identified some areas requiring further clarity that we believe could be relatively fast and inexpensive to deliver and provide valuable opportunities to rebuild confidence and trust among responsible firearm users – specifically:
- the publication of clear criteria for GP health assessments and occupational health alternatives (we support the immediate reconvening of the Health Assessment Working Group if required to expedite the development and release of this publication),
- rural storage guidance covering multi-property and shared access arrangements, and
- confirmation that pest control activities remain unrestricted under the Act.
4. Broader Sector Engagement
Finally, urge the Government to immediately announce and quickly establish a joint Firearms Stakeholder Reference Group to meet quarterly. This would further aid in the rebuilding of confidence and trust in the Government by assuring firearms users of continued dialogue between WAPOL, WAFarmers, the Firearms Community Alliance and other affected groups.
Conclusion
The agricultural sector and much of the wider firearms community seek certainty, simplicity, and fairness in the administration of the Firearms Act 2024 and assert the pursuit of these outcomes are also in the interests of the whole Western Australian community.
The immediate implementation of as many of the Committee’s recommendations as possible will go a long way toward rebuilding lost confidence in the regulatory system and ensuring that law-abiding firearm owners are consistently treated with respect.
While we hope positive action is able to be taken immediately, we remain open to meeting with you at any time should you wish to discuss your priorities, communication strategies or other issues.
Yours sincerely,
Steve McGuire
President – WAFarmers
25 November 2025
