Tas Bill to ban high-powered shotgun

The Tasmanian government has labelled as insensitive a move to debate firearms legislation just days after the Port Arthur massacre anniversary.

Tasmania's parliament is set to debate amendments to the state's Firearms Act less than a week after the Port Arthur massacre's 20th anniversary.

There is a push to ban a new rapid-fire Adler lever-action shotgun.

The weapon can fire six shots in about six seconds and can be legally owned by anyone with a gun licence in Tasmania.

"There's no reason for ordinary gun owners to have this rapid fire weapon," said Greens MP Rosalie Woodruff, who will introduce a Bill to outlaw the gun.

"We can't forget the lessons that were so tragically learnt at Port Arthur.

"We spent hundreds of millions of dollars removing rapid-action firearms from the community, and there hasn't been a mass public shooting since then."

She said 7000 Adler 110s had been sold in Australia and several hundred would be in Tasmania.

Her party is calling on the state government to outlaw the weapon.

Police and Emergency Services Minister Rene Hidding said the gun was being assessed by the Law, Crime and Community Safety Council.

"There is a national firearms agreement in place and it is very important that agreement is not broken; whatever action is taken on the Adler or any other firearm needs to be consistent across all states," he said.

A ban is already in place for high-capacity versions of the Adler.

"It is unfortunate and somewhat insensitive of the Greens that they are seeking to move on this issue in the parliament, so close to last week's 20th anniversary of Port Arthur," Mr Hidding added.

Tasmanian parliament sits from Tuesday to Thursday.


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Source: AAP


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