Opened the debate
Littleproud moved the bill, arguing it corrected a wrong caused by political expedience following the Bondi tragedy. Littleproud asserted that Australia already possessed the world's strongest gun laws, including fit-and-proper-person tests and mandatory training, which rendered further restrictions unnecessary. Littleproud claimed the new laws persecuted over a million lawful gun owners, including farmers and recreational shooters who assist with pest mitigation, without improving safety. Littleproud criticised specific provisions, such as penalties for downloading repair instructions via carriage services and bans on importing sporting vests, as disproportionate and ineffective. Littleproud argued the government failed to address Islamic extremism, which he identified as the true security threat, and noted that only New South Wales and the ACT had signed up to the federal buyback scheme.