New firearms laws in WA have been welcomed by domestic violence advocates and the state opposition, following the deaths of two women in Perth in May last year at the hands of a man licensed to own 13 guns. However, both say they want adequate of the new regulations to ensure the changes are lasting.
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00:00After the comments from the Police Commissioner today, the State Opposition said the tragedy
00:07should serve as a catalyst for change.
00:09Domestic violence has increased by almost 50 per cent over the last five years.
00:13It is unacceptable.
00:15We must say as a community, enough is enough.
00:19The details of the disciplinary action against the eight officers who failed to act properly
00:23were not revealed.
00:25As the Commissioner has said, mistakes were made, they were.
00:28Mistakes were made.
00:29And those officers will have to live with those mistakes for the rest of their lives.
00:33But what we've got to do at this stage is make sure that they never happen again.
00:37Bombara was licensed to own 13 guns.
00:40Since the tragedy, the Government has passed new firearm laws restricting licence holders
00:44to between five and ten firearms.
00:47A move welcomed by domestic violence advocates, who also support police having fewer options
00:52in how they respond to incidents.
00:55We can't have discretion.
00:56We must have consistency.
00:58So whatever police station a victim-survivor walks into, they're going to get the same
01:02evidence-based response.
01:04WA Police say they'll implement the recommendations under the guidance of specialist domestic
01:09violence services and those with lived experience.
01:12But the Opposition wants greater oversight.
01:15What I would like to think is that the CCC does have that authority.
01:20The report has been provided to the CCC, the Ombudsman and Deputy State Coroner, all of
01:25whom may choose to take further action.