Nationals leader Shane Love set to move to disallow latest firearm regulations following doctors’ concerns

Nationals WA leader Shane Love is set to move a motion when Parliament returns this week calling for the latest updates to the firearm regulations to be disallowed.

It comes after doctors revealed they were refusing to conduct the necessary health assessments for people to get a firearm licence.

The fresh laws, introduced late last year, include restrictions on the types of firearms, while owners must be approved by a medical professional in order to obtain a firearm licence.

Mr Love has been consistent in his stance of saying the laws were rushed through and on Wednesday will move the regulations be disallowed.

“I have promised, in public forums across the State, to contest these regulations at the first available sitting day,” he said.

“I will now fulfil that commitment to the thousands of law-abiding firearms owners whose livelihoods and recreational options have been thrown into disarray.”

Mr Love pointed to the similarities with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act, saying it caused “unnecessary and avoidable distress” in regional WA.

Last week, it was revealed doctors feared blood would be on their hands in the event of a shooting if they signed off on paperwork granting a person a firearm licence.

The State Government said doctors were protected in these events, but medical professionals still had their reservations.

It means many farmers have been unable to apply for licences critical for their work, while recreational shooters were more exposed with doctors allegedly reluctant to sign off on tests for people who do not require a firearm professionally.

Mr Love said regional GPs were “already under resourced and under pressure”.

“This legislation puts them in an untenable position where they will be forced to make a judgement call on the future behaviour of people who reside in their communities,” he said.