Stop Labor’s War on the Weekend

Ahead of the Australia Day long-weekend, The Nationals WA have launched a bold new campaign to put a
stop to Labor’s relentless War on the Weekend which is crushing the freedoms of fishers, off-road vehicle
users and law-abiding firearms owners across the State.

Leader of The Nationals WA Shane Love MLA slammed Labor’s reckless, ideologically driven decisions
which are robbing Western Australians of the leisure and recreation they love.

“WA Labor is waging a war on our very way of life, taking away and attacking aspects of life that define our
weekends as quintessentially Australian.” Mr Love said

“Since when has it been core business of Government to reach into your weekend and tell you how you
can spend it? Labor are so focused on taking your fishing rod and keys, they’ve forgotten how to do their
job.

“Whether it’s fishing, off-road driving, or owning a firearm, Labor’s crusade against the weekend is a direct
attack on hardworking families who just want to enjoy their time off.”

Fishing: No consultation

Mr Love said WA Labor’s bungled decisions on fishing have devastated thousands of recreational fishers
and hurt coastal communities and businesses.

“First, we saw Labor drop a bombshell with their nine-month ban on demersal fishing – announced with
zero consultation – before they backflipped under immense pressure from the Nationals WA and the fishing
community,” Mr Love said.

“Labor has now locked up more than 1,000 kilometres of coastline with the South Coast Marine Park and
plans to triple the size of the Marmion Marine Park after the election.

“These changes are hammering local fishers and stripping families of their right to enjoy the water.

“Fishing charter and tourism operators along the WA coast are being forced out of business because of the
Minister for Fisheries mismanagement.”

The Nationals have pledged to send the South Coast Marine Park back to the drawing board and block the
Marmion Marine Park expansion until a full review is conducted.

“We will fight to protect fishing rights and ensure decisions are guided by science and proper consultations
– not Labor’s green agenda.”

Four-Wheel-Driving: Left in neutral

Labor’s neglect of off-road vehicle enthusiasts is also a concern, according to Mr Love.

“For years, WA Labor has refused to prioritise legislation to support off-road vehicle users. Their inaction
has led to poor infrastructure, restricted access, and sparked discussion of bans in popular locations like
Albany, Esperance, and Gingin,” he said.

The Nationals in Government will prioritise opening more areas of WA for off-road vehicle use.

“Labor is happy to blame off road vehicle users for the condition of these areas, while refusing to fund the
facilities and maintenance needed to keep these areas open and well-managed.”

“And if that wasn’t enough, Federal Labor’s ‘ute tax’ is set to add thousands to the cost of new utes, pricing
families and small businesses out of their vehicles.”

“Labor want’s to penalise WA families for driving a bloody ute. Frankly, that’s un-Australian.”

The Nationals WA in Government will introduce off-road vehicle legislation to make it easier to register
vehicles and also boost funding for local governments to maintain off-road areas.

National Parks: Locking Western Australians Out

The Nationals in Government will ensure that Western Australia’s National Parks, including the Kimberley’s
iconic Horizontal Falls, remain open and accessible for recreation and tourism.

Leader Shane Love MLA criticised the Cook Labor Government’s decision to ban visitors to this worldrenowned attraction, warning it will cost the region $15 million annually, around 58 jobs, and its reputation
as a premier destination.

“The legislative purpose of our National Parks is to promote and facilitate tourism and recreation – we will
not stand by while the Cook Labor Government locks Western Australians out,” Mr Love said.

Firearms: Targeting law-abiding owners

Mr Love said WA Labor’s treatment of law-abiding firearms owners has been nothing short of disgraceful.
“WA Labor has vilified 90,000 law-aiding firearms owners with draconian laws and outrageous media stunts
– like publishing maps of people’s homes to paint them as the enemy, a dangerous stunt that compromised
people’s safety.” he said.

“Labor’s laws do nothing to remove illegal firearms from the hands of criminals, they are designed to make
life harder for recreational shooters, sporting competitors, and farmers managing pests.”

Mr Love reiterated The Nationals WA commitment to stand firm with firearm owners and rewrite Labor’s
laws after the election.

“The Nationals WA are the only party fighting to protect the rights of law-abiding firearms owners. We will
work with the sector to deliver practical laws which actually enhance public safety, without punishing
responsible license holders.”

Mr Love said outdoor enthusiasts had a clear choice at the State Election.

“WA Labor’s War on the Weekend is an attack on every Western Australian who values their freedom and
their right to enjoy recreational pursuits,” Mr Love said.

“The Nationals WA will end Labor’s ideological assault on how you choose to spend your weekend – be it
up a bush track, on the range, or down at the beach with your family.”

“The Nationals are fighting to take back our weekends – join the battle by voting 1 for The Nationals WA on
March 8.”

Leader of the Nationals WA Shane Love MLA has accused the Cook Labor Government of once again demonstrating its disdain for firearms owners with the disingenuous release of the long-awaited Firearms Regulations during the dying days of 2024.

“This shameful tactic – sneakily timed leading into the Christmas Holiday period when scrutiny and engagement will be lowers – is a hallmark of this Government’s disrespectful treatment for WA’s 90,000 law-abiding firearms owners,” Mr Love said.

“It shows utter contempt for law-abiding firearms owners across Western Australia.” Mr Love said.

Mr Love highlighted these regulations had been in development for months, yet Minister Papalia repeatedly refused to provide transparency or engage with stakeholders before they were publicly released this week.

“Burying these regulations in the whirl of holiday busyness will not cut it. No firearm owner trusts this Labor Government after the outrageous release of a map containing the location of every legally registered firearm in the State, and the disrespectful treatment they have shown every step of the way,” Mr Love said.

“These regulations are not about enhancing community safety. They are an ideological attack on the Western Australian firearms community, painting them as pariahs while failing to address any real threats.”

The Nationals WA have committed to stop the clock on Labor’s Firearms Laws and deliver a practical rewrite of the Firearms Act following the 2025 State Election.

“These regulations don’t come into operation until 31 March 2025, after the State Election. The Nationals WA have pledged to disallow the regulations on the first day of Parliament after the election, stopping them from taking effect.”

Mr Love said The Nationals WA have pledged to stand united with law-abiding firearm owners.

“People are fed up with the Cook Labor Government, which vilifies and tramples on Western Australians who responsibly and ethically use firearms for farming, sport, recreation, and professional purposes,” Mr Love said.

“The Nationals WA are the only Party standing up for law-abiding firearms owners, and we are committed to delivering a common-sense, practical rewrite of the Firearms Act which ensures community safety without punitively punishing responsible firearms owners.

With just 10 days left before the WA Firearms Act Voluntary Buyback Scheme closes, and with a mere fraction of the allocated $63 million spent, The Nationals WA are urgently calling on the Cook Labor Government to extend the scheme.

Leader Shane Love MLA has condemned the Government for seeking to close the buyback on August 31, given the widespread confusion amongst firearms owners around the new laws, which aren’t set to take effect early 2025.

“So far, just $8.3 million has been paid out to firearms owners, leaving most of the $63 million fund untouched,” Mr Love said.

Mr Love pointed out that many firearms owners are still in the dark about how the new laws will affect them, given the regulations for the new Firearms Act were yet to be drafted.

“If the Police Minister is serious about removing up to 90,000 firearms, and not just using the buyback scheme as a platform for his media stunts, he must extend the scheme until the full details of the new laws are clear,” Mr Love said.

“Many licensed firearms owners are particularly concerned about the new property Written Authority scheme and what limits will be imposed and require this information to make an informed decision around surrendering their firearms.

“Pressuring them into giving up their firearms – which may be an important part of their lifestyles or livelihoods – without providing them with accurate information is no way to encourage confidence in the new laws.

“The Minister should keep the scheme open for up to 12 months, allowing licensed firearms owners to participate in the scheme when their license is due for renewal.”

Mr Love also highlighted confusion around ‘pest density distribution reports’ from the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) which would be used to guide the number of Written Authorities – the new term for the property letter scheme.

“WA Police have claimed the number of Written Authorities per property will be determined using pest density reports from DPIRD,” Mr Love said.

“However, DPIRD staff have stated that these reports don’t exist and that they don’t maintain records on pest density distribution.

“When the Minister for Agriculture was directly asked about this contradiction, she claimed to be unaware of her own Government’s communications, and failed to answer basic questions or table these reports in Parliament when given an opportunity to do so.

“The Nationals are demanding clarity on whether these reports exist and, if they do, when they will be made available to landowners.”

Mr Love reiterated The Nationals’ strong opposition to Labor’s firearms laws and confirmed the Party’s commitment to disallowing the regulations from taking effect if elected to Government in 2025.

“The Nationals WA are the only party standing up against Labor’s flawed firearms laws, and continue to call on the Government to provide much-needed clarity for firearms owners.”