MEMBER for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey, said the passing of new gun laws this week without any meaningful consultation and minimal debate is yet another example of the Labor Government’s disrespect for regional Australians.

In his speech to  Parliament this week on the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill Mr Chaffey said Sunday, December 14, 2025 will be remembered in Australian history as the day of the worst terrorist attack on Australian shores.

“Fifteen innocent people attending the Jewish celebration at Bondi Beach died. May they rest in peace,” Mr Chaffey said.

“This heinous act was the action of two Islamic extremist terrorists with murderous intent as their sole motivation.

“Yes, these terrorists used firearms, they also had prepared pipe bombs, and the truth is we may never know the full intent of their plan – could they have planned to use their vehicle to drive into crowds of people?

“After weeks of pressure from all sectors of Australian communities, the Prime Minister has finally agreed to hold a Royal Commission into antisemitism.

“All of Australia will be waiting for the findings and recommendations that will guide this place on the actions required to stamp out antisemitism and prevent any future senseless loss of live,” Mr Chaffey said.

“The faulty nature of this rushed legislation has been highlighted by the fact that at the 11th hour, the “Omnibus Bill” has been radically altered,” Mr Chaffey said.

“In yet another dirty deal between the Albanese Government and the Greens, democracy has been stitched up before it even hits the floor of Parliament.

“Today, I rise to speak against a Bill that has been carved from another Bill we barely had time to comprehend.

“The people of the Parkes electorate and regional Australians are tired of their lives and their livelihoods being bartered away by Labor with the Greens” – Member for Parkes, Jamie Chaffey in parliament this week.

“We are now left to debate a major matter for Australians without adequate time to debate democratically and to offer amendments to support those regional Australians the Albanese government has forgotten.

“Since that terrible day at Bondi when attention returned to gun laws, I have been swamped by letters, emails and phone calls from the regional Australians this government is letting down.

“Anger is growing to a fever pitch in most towns and villages in the Parkes electorate and regional Australia,” he said.

“In the months since the last Federal Election, the Albanese Government has passed a number of pieces of legislation – many times in back-door deals with the Greens – that have all had a negative impact on regional Australians.

“I’m talking about the Environmental Protection Reform Bill, changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme and changes to water regulations. And the Labor Government now has regional Australia in its sights with these National gun laws,” Mr Chaffey said.

“The calls and letters about these gun laws have come from Broken Hill and Cobar, Parkes and Gilgandra, Dubbo and Curlewis, Gunnedah, Narrabri, West Wyalong and Lake Cargelligo and many more communities throughout the Parkes electorate.

“My people are worried . . . regional Australians are anxious,” he said.

“Guns are not a novelty in regional Australia. They are necessary for pest animal control, livestock protection, and land management.

“Primary producers already follow tough regulations to retain their firearms,” he said.

“For many farmers, guns are simply an essential part of business. They are essential to providing the rest of the country and some of the rest of the world with quality food and fibre.

“Why are all regional Australians paying the price for the very few who do the wrong thing?

“Since terrorists pulled the trigger at Bondi, the reverberations have been felt across regional Australia,” he said.

“New gun laws were rushed through the New South Wales Parliament on Christmas Eve.

“Gun owners across New South Wales will face further restriction on the number of firearms that they can own. There are changes in categories of firearms available to farmers and recreational shooters.

“This Bill has very little detail on the proposed gun buyback scheme. There is no detail here to tell us how it will work, when it will happen and how much it will cost.

“Gun laws are a state-by-state, territory-by-territory concern. How can this be implemented at all, when there are so many different laws, so many different approaches, so many different perspectives? Will the States and Territories agree to even fund this buyback scheme?

“If this Labor-Greens buyback scheme does proceed, gun owners must be compensated at full and fair market value for the property they surrender, not just for the firearms but also for any firearm parts, accessories, redundant ammunition, ammunition components and reloading equipment,” Mr Chaffey said.

“Compensation must also be made available for loss of any business and hardship, including any buyouts of any businesses deemed unviable as a result of the introduction of this crazy legislation.

“It would be entirely irresponsible of us to support something that has very few parameters, contested costings, and won’t achieve the result of preventing terrorism on our shores.

“The people of the Parkes electorate and regional Australians are tired of their lives and their livelihoods being bartered away by Labor with the Greens.

“It is time to remember who we are trying to protect – and that is all Australians,” Mr Chaffey said.