Tasmania has backflipped on a plan to water down its gun laws after backlash from the community, including Port Arthur first respondents.
The state Liberal government's controversial proposal would have doubled the duration of some gun licences and made weapons such as pump-action shotguns more readily available.
The policy was designed in the lead-up to the March state election but only became public on election eve.
On Friday, it was abandoned by Premier Will Hodgman.
"This is an area of some public interest to Tasmanians given our history, given the fact that many people are concerned about public safety issues," he said.
"We will not pursue the policy proposals that we have previously put forward."
Health groups including the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and first respondents to the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, last month urged Mr Hodgman to not push ahead with the changes.
The state government says it will review the policy after an ongoing upper house inquiry releases recommendations.
Mr Hodgman pledged no laws would breach the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), entered into by all states and territories after 35 people were shot dead at Port Arthur.
Gun Control Australia vice chair Roland Browne told AAP parts of the proposed laws would have breached the NFA, including a mooted increase in gun licence periods from five years to ten.
"We're pleased that the government has listened to the community," he said.
"This is an issue of national importance to the integrity of the National Firearms Agreement.
"The gun lobby tries to get one state to water its laws down and then uses that as a basis to undermine laws in another state."
The state opposition described the Liberals' about-face as humiliating.
"(Police Minister) Michael Ferguson is admitting failure on yet another poorly drafted and consulted Liberal policy," Labor MP Shane Broad said.
Share
