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Parliamentary Questions


Question On Notice No. 462 asked in the Legislative Council on 31 October 2017 by Hon Diane Evers

Question Directed to the: Minister for Environment representing the Minister for Police
Parliament: 40 Session: 1


Question

(1) I refer to the classification of crossbows as prohibited weapons, as a result of changes introduced in Western Australia in 2011 to the Weapons Act 1999, and I ask:

(a) is the Government aware of any instances of the illegal use of crossbows in Western Australia since 2011;
(b) are regulations pertaining to the purchase, possession, use, sale, supply or manufacture of crossbows being enforced in Western Australia;
(c) if yes to (b), how are they being enforced; and
(d) if yes to (b), what financial and human resources are currently allocated to enforcement of crossbow regulations?
(2) What is the Government’s position on the suggestion that crossbows should be registered firearms, requiring licensing?
(3) I refer to the classification of compound bows as controlled weapons under the Weapons Act 1999, and I ask:
(a) is the Government aware of any instances of the illegal use of compound bows in Western Australia since the Weapons Act 1999 came into effect;
(b) are regulations pertaining to the purchase, possession, use, sale, supply or manufacture of compound bows being enforced in Western Australia;
(c) if yes to (b), how are they being enforced; and
(d) if yes to (b), what financial and human resources are currently allocated to enforcement of compound bow regulations?
Answered on 29 November 2017

(1)(a) Incidents involving crossbows can be reported to police and various local and government agencies such as (RSPCA, Australian Border Force, local shires and councils etc.).

(b) Yes.

(c) As information becomes known, offences involving crossbows are investigated. This may be done by the Western Australia Police Force, RSPCA, Australian Border Force, local council rangers or other investigative bodies.

Investigations/prosecutions into the possession/use of crossbows are undertaken when these items are located by police. This usually occurs when undertaking search warrants for other matters (not specifically looking for crossbows) or during vehicle stops (chance discovery).

Other information from the Australian Border Force may be able to add supplementary data to the importation and possible sale of these items.

(d) Normal enforcement and investigations resources are deployed.

(2) On 1 July 2011, amendments to the Weapons Act 1999 and the Weapons Regulations 1999 were passed and all crossbows became a Schedule 1, Item 7A, and Prohibited Weapon, under the Weapons Regulations 1999 (previously only single handed pistol style crossbows were prohibited).

In the introduction of this legislation, existing crossbow owners and users were provided with a three-month opportunity to submit an exemption request to the Minister for Police against set exemption criteria. Only four persons did so. There is no legislation which permits a person to possess a crossbow and seek exemption after this date. Any persons in possession of a crossbow that does not have an exemption would be in breach of current legislation and can be charged by police with possessing a prohibited weapon.

To enable the licensing of a crossbow would require each weapon to have some form of serial number identification to allow for registration of the weapon, which they do not.

Unlike a firearm, there are no lawful provisions to allow for the use of crossbows in recreational hunting.

(3) (a-d) Incidents involving compound bows can be reported to police and various local and government agencies (RSPCA and Local Government etc.)