Greens claim foul in Senate guns report

The Australian Greens have accused coalition senators of kowtowing to the gun lobby in their report of an inquiry into gun-related violence.

A war of words has broken out over a Senate inquiry report into gun-related violence, with the coalition and the Greens both claiming the majority view.

The inquiry found wide variations in the available information from state, territory and federal police and other agencies.

But that was the only point of agreement with the Greens accusing a majority of senators participating in the inquiry of kowtowing to the gun lobby after they found that most illegal guns did not originate from licensed firearm owners.

Greens senator Penny Wright, who chaired the inquiry, claimed she and three Labor members signed off the committee's majority report.

But Nationals senator Bridget McKenzie also claimed majority status for a separate report, even though she and Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm were technically non-voting members of the inquiry.

Senator Wright said the inquiry was highly politicised from the outset, and the McKenzie group was not willing to sign up to the reasonable and considered recommendations of other senators.

"There has been a concerted campaign to generate submissions from gun owners and advocates of the industry," she told ABC radio on Friday.

Senator McKenzie, proudly proclaiming sporting shooter status, said her report reflected the view of senators who were more engaged in the inquiry.

The Greens were polarising the debate around gun laws by pandering to their political base, she said.


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Source: AAP


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