States to push for some restrictions on lever-action shotguns

At least three state governments will push for some restrictions on lever-action shotguns ahead of a national meeting on Friday, but gun control groups say the changes will make little difference to gaining access to the controversial Adler A110 shotgun.

The result of the limited reclassification, if it is approved at the police ministers’ meeting on Friday in Melbourne, could be that the federal government will lift the ban it has imposed and reinstate imports of the firearms.

Lever-action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds are currently subject to a sweeping import ban imposed by the immigration minister, Peter Dutton.

The ban was imposed after particular concerns were raised over the Adler A110 lever-action shotgun and until the states and territories could determine a separate issue of how lever-action shotguns should be categorised.

These types of weapons are currently listed as category A firearms, which are the easiest to obtain. While most states and territories support removing them from this category, Guardian Australia understands at least three states and territories only support changing them to category B firearms, which would still make them easy to obtain.

Gun Control Australia said this change would be like “a car changing lanes in a traffic jam – it won’t make much difference”.

Guardian Australia put detailed questions to the states and territories about their position of the classification of lever-action shotguns.

The New South Wales deputy premier, Troy Grant, said in a statement on Thursday: “Our position represents a strengthening of the current A classification of the Adler, but the ultimate decision is a matter for national consensus.”

Although the statement declined to clarify which category NSW would be pushing for lever-action shotguns, Grant has said this week he would like to see them placed in category B.

Grant was on Thursday contradicted by the premier, Mike Baird, who said cabinet was opposed to lifting the import ban on the seven-shot Adler gun. “What Troy is saying is if we get to the point to consider reclassification, he would anticipate them being strengthened,” Baird told reporters on Thursday.

A spokesman for the Northern Territory police minister, Peter Chandler, said: “The NT government supports changing the classification of lever-action shotguns from category A to category B. This will have minimal impact on the majority of firearm owners in the Territory.”

A spokesman for the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, said: “Currently, the majority of states and territories, including Victoria, support reclassification of the Adler to ensure we restrict its access.

“This needs to be a national approach and in the spirit of the national firearms agreement.

“If the states can’t agree at tomorrow’s meeting of ministers, then the current importation ban on the Adler put in place by the commonwealth will continue.”

The Australian Capital Territory was in caretaker mode after the recent election. But a spokesman for ACT Labor said: “From the ACT’s perspective, if and when the commonwealth seeks input on whether to allow importation of the Adler A110 and other lever-action shot guns, a reelected ACT Labor government will strongly argue that such weapons are unnecessary, potentially very dangerous, and should not be allowed in the country.

“It’s disappointing that the Turnbull government is even considering watering down Australia’s gun-control regulations for political purposes. ACT Labor will not be supporting any watering down on gun control in his country.”

The Tasmanian government did not respond to requests for comment.

The Western Australian premier, Colin Barnett, has already signalled he wants the ban to remain in place.

A spokeswoman for the Queensland police minister, Bill Byrne, said: “The minister will not be commenting before the meeting. He is looking forward to hearing what is said at the meeting.”

The Gun Control Australia chair, Sam Lee, said “category A and B firearms are the most commonly registered firearms in Australia.

“It is estimated around 83% of firearm licence holders own a category A licence and around 70% own a category B licence. In fact, many firearm licence holders hold both a category A and B licence.

“Changing the Adler from a cat A to a cat B would be like a car changing lanes in a traffic jam – it won’t make much difference.”

New South Wales Greens MP David Shoebridge took particular aim at the NSW government’s decision.

“This is Mike Baird at his tricky best, pretending to support a national ban on this dangerous weapon and then agreeing to a reclassification which would pave the way for its importation,” he said.

“Of course the Adler A110 should be reclassified as the dangerous category 3 weapon that it is. The current state of play that sees this multi-round shotgun have the same classification as an air rifle is just ridiculous.

“Firearms ownership in NSW is only increasing, and there is absolutely no need to allow this weapon to be added the already overstocked arsenals around the state.”

A separate proposal has been floated by the NSW government to wind back restrictions on heavy firearms classified as category D weapons that could allow people to obtain an “unlimited” number of pump action or semi-automatic shotguns. All state and territory governments declined to answer questions about this separate proposal.