TASMANIANS OPPOSE WEAKENING OF GUN LAWS
As the Tasmanian government proposes to Liberalise Tasmania’s gun laws in breach of the National Firearms Agreement, a ReachTEL poll shows significant public opposition.
The poll, taken on Wednesday 2nd May 2018 asked 1,188 Tasmanian voters:
The Tasmanian government wants to change the National Firearms Agreement to increase access to semi-automatic rifles and shotguns for target shooting. Do you support or oppose this change?
A significant majority – 68% - oppose the government’s plan. Just over 50% of Liberal voters were opposed (see poll results attached).
Gun Control Australia Vice-President Roland Browne said that support for the National Firearms Agreement (in its current terms) across Australia had been very strong since 1996. This poll confirmed the support continues in Tasmania.
“The poll results also confirm most Tasmanians want to feel safe and don’t want Premier Hodgman to make semi-automatic rifles available (again). It would take Tasmania back to pre-Port Arthur massacre gun laws, it would undermine the National Firearms Agreement, and it would make Tasmania a laughing stock across Australia.”
Mr Browne said “It’s bad policy and there’s little public support. What’s worse, it was hidden from the electorate before the election. Premier Hodgman has no mandate on this one.”
Under the 1996 National Firearms Agreement Tasmania banned possession of semi-automatic rifles for most civilian purposes, including recreational shooting. The Tasmanian government wants to change the National Firearms Agreement to increase access to semi-automatic rifles and shotguns for target shooting.
Do you support or oppose this change?
|
|
Total |
Female |
Male |
18 – 34 |
35 – 50 |
51 – 65 |
65+ |
|
Strongly support |
17.2% |
10.2% |
24.7% |
35.0% |
12.2% |
11.1% |
10.3% |
|
Support |
10.3% |
8.1% |
12.5% |
3.3% |
10.7% |
11.1% |
17.2% |
|
Oppose |
22.9% |
28.0% |
17.4% |
15.2% |
17.0% |
26.6% |
36.5% |
|
Strongly oppose |
45.8% |
49.9% |
41.5% |
43.2% |
54.8% |
48.4% |
32.6% |
|
Don’t know / not sure |
3.8% |
3.7% |
3.8% |
3.3% |
5.4% |
2.8% |
3.4% |
|
|
Total |
Liberal |
Labor |
Greens |
One Nation |
Other |
Undecided |
|
Strongly support |
17.2% |
26.6% |
4.1% |
0.0% |
23.9% |
44.4% |
0.0% |
|
Support |
10.3% |
16.5% |
6.3% |
0.9% |
4.5% |
8.9% |
7.5% |
|
Oppose |
22.9% |
24.1% |
19.8% |
14.0% |
26.9% |
20.0% |
50.9% |
|
Strongly oppose |
45.8% |
27.0% |
69.3% |
75.7% |
41.8% |
25.6% |
39.6% |
|
Don’t know / not sure |
3.8% |
5.8% |
0.5% |
9.3% |
3.0% |
1.1% |
1.9% |