Disappointing but not entirely unexpected news from the WA election on March 8, with the gun-hating ALP re-elected by a massive margin; it took the ABC a little over two hours to call the results based on expert analysis from the highly respected Anthony Green.
There are some small highlights for shooters, however – WA Labor suffered a significant swing away from it in the seats with highest gun ownership, and now-former Police Minister Paul Papalia, who was the key driver of the laws, suffered a staggering 29% decrease in the primary vote for his electorate of Secret Harbour, almost certainly due to backlash over the way he handled the new laws and his heavy-handed, arrogant approach to their implementation.
It can hardly be seen as a coincidence that, despite getting re-elected, Mr Papalia was quietly removed as Police Minister – a role now held by Baldivis MP Reece Whitby – and is now Emergency Services Minister.
Things are dire in Western Australia, but shooters did make a difference – even if it wasn’t enough this time to immediately undo the gun laws – and other politicians and political parties are well aware of this and taking notes.
This is the time for WA shooters to work together with pro-shooter MPs and candidates, like Louise Kingston, Ian Goodenough, Ryan Burns, get these laws tossed out in the future.
