Government stoush over shotgun ban simmers on

SBS World News Radio: Government MPs are caught in the crossfire of a public spat between the Prime Minister and his predecessor over gun laws, as the states fail to agree on classifications for the shotgun at the centre of the feud.

Government stoush over shotgun ban simmers onGovernment stoush over shotgun ban simmers on

Government stoush over shotgun ban simmers on

It's been a very messy week in federal parliament for the Coalition.

The week began with the government attacking Labor on industrial relations laws and ended with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull left talking about his predecessor, Tony Abbott.

As by a reporter did he believe Tony Abbott has kept his commitment not to engage in sniping, Mr Turnbull responded, "I'm very happy to deal with the facts, I'm not going to run a commentary on, ah, on any, ah, other members of parliament."

Tensions were on public display all week over whether the Tony Abbott traded gun laws for votes when he was prime minister.

It's said a deal was struck between Abbott Government and Liberal Democrat Senator David Leyonhjelm to lift a ban on a controversial rapid-fire shotgun known as the Adler.

Senator Leyonhjelm says the plan was to include a sunset clause ending the ban within a year, if he voted for an immigration bill.

Malcolm Turnbull told Question Time Tony Abbott knew of the ban, prompting this response in the parliament from Mr Abbott .

(Speaker) "Does the member for Warringah claim he's been misrepresented?"

(Abbott) "Oh most grievously, Mr Speaker. This is absolutely and utterly false. Now Mr Speaker the bottom line here is that but for the ban imposed by the Abbott Government and continued by the Turnbull Government, there would be many thousands more rapid-fire shotguns in this country."

The issue's ignited Labor, with frontbencher Anthony Albanese playing up leadership tensions between Prime Minister Turnbull and Mr Abbott.

"What we see is that this mob are so divided they can't even agree on how to rewrite history. Yesterday you had Malcolm Turnbull essentially call Tony Abbott a liar in Parliament."

Government Minister Christopher Pyne was left to answer the question on Channel Nine.

Presenter: "Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull despise each other."

Pyne: "Not true."

Presenter: "Are you serious?"

Pyne: "Absolutely serious! They are very old friends. Of course they had a difference of opinion about who the prime minister should be, that's been played out in public, we know that, and Malcolm Turnbull is the prime minister."

At the heart of this debate is concern that the controversial shotgun will be allowed back into the country.

Prime Minister Turnbull says that won't be happening and the ban will remain until the States and Territories can agree on how the gun should be classified, after Justice and Police ministers failed to reach agreement at a meeting in Melbourne.

Meanwhile, the government has announced a national gun amnesty will be held next year, aiming to reduce the number of illegal firearms.


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