Member for Mallee Dr Anne Webster says The Nationals made the right decision for Mallee and the nation in the snap 2-day sitting in Canberra this week, opposing rushed gun law changes and standing against a poorly drafted attack on free speech.

Parliamentarians are returning to their electorates from Canberra today after The Nationals worked around the clock for days to get the Albanese Labor Government to drop some controversial elements of its proposals, but ultimately the Bills could not be salvaged.

“Labor’s blatantly political approach to the tragedy of the 14 December Bondi massacre was not to directly address antisemitism, but instead to target law-abiding firearms owners and widen hate speech laws in unacceptable ways,” Dr Webster said.

“Law-abiding gun owners are not the problem. Free speech is not the problem.  Antisemitism is the problem. Islamic extremism is the problem. Violent radicalisation is the problem.

“The Nationals opposed Labor’s gun law changes because they were a diversion, and failed to address the real issue.  There are already adequate laws that were not used to their full effect to stop violent Islamic extremists using guns to deadly effect.

“As for hate speech, I have been very clear in Parliament and in my public comments that the Prime Minister needed to do more to address antisemitism, ever since October 7, 2023 and well before the Bondi tragedy.  What Labor brought to the House this week was rushed and far too broad, despite The Nationals negotiating removal of many unacceptable elements.  

“In the end, we as a Nationals’ Party Room could not support the Bill because it left the definition of ‘harm’ too broad, rather than focusing on the problem that is the advocating of violence against Jewish people.  Preventing another attack requires targeting advocacy of physical violence, not the social, psychological or economic harm Labor kept in the Bill that passed.

“Not one Mallee constituent contacted me urging me to support Labor’s bills – they were in fact friendless. Hundreds of Mallee residents wrote to me appalled at Labor’s misguided response to antisemitism, and I voiced their objections. The fact is Labor truncated proper democratic processes and guillotined debate. Many of us had no opportunity to speak in the House. Why the rush?

As Shadow Minister for Regional Communications, Regional Development, Local Government and Territories, Dr Webster said she and all her Nationals ministerial colleagues are prepared for the consequences of adopting a Party position different to that taken by Shadow Cabinet.

“I understand Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is in discussions with Leader of the Opposition Sussan Ley on where we stand. As we did after the election when the Liberals wouldn’t stand by our regionally focussed policy positions, we took a step back from being in Coalition and the Liberals understood the strength of our convictions for regional Australians.  We are not afraid to do it again,” Dr Webster said.

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