Port Arthur massacre anniversary reignites Tasmania gun law debate as Walter Mikac criticises government stance

Tasmania’s government maintains it has the gun law reform balance right after criticism from a man who lost his wife and two daughters in the Port Arthur massacre.

Walter Mikac’s wife, Nanette and their young children, Madeline and Alannah, were among 35 people murdered by a lone gunman at the tourist site on April 28, 1996.

The massacre, the worst in modern Australia, prompted a swathe of swift reforms resulting in 640,000 guns being destroyed in a buyback scheme.

The effectiveness of Australia’s gun laws has been under the microscope since December’s Bondi shooting, in which 15 people died in an attack targeted at the Jewish community.

All states and territories have agreed to consider tightening laws, but there is no uniform approach.

NSW, WA and the ACT have either implemented or are pondering gun caps for individuals, but Tasmania has ruled it out.

Speaking in the lead-up to the 30th anniversary of the massacre, Mr Mikac said it was “pathetic” that Tasmania was not implementing a gun cap.

“They should have the tightest firearms registration there is. They should be setting a standard,” he told the ABC.

The island state government plans to implement a “nation-leading” gun buyback scheme among reforms that include stronger penalties for theft and possession of stolen guns.

Government minister Bridget Archer said Tasmania had committed to strong action following the Bondi shooting.

“We have always said that we will continue to work through this in a measured and sensible way,” she told reporters on Monday.

“We have also said the caps in and of themselves, in some arbitrary capacity, are not the only thing that is going to make a difference here.

“What we want to see is firearms out of the hands of criminals and people who seek to do harm.”

It was important to remain vigilant about gun reform but there was also a role for lawful firearm use in Australia, Ms Archer said.

Tasmania Police Commissioner Donna Adams wrote to the state’s governing Liberals in February saying she supported a firearm cap.

The state Labor opposition and the Greens also support caps.

There are more than 157,000 registered guns in Tasmania, owned by roughly 35,600 people.

Almost 9000 licence holders have more than six guns.

Ms Archer said her thoughts were with people who lost their lives, their family and friends, first responders, those injured and Mr Mikac.

“This is of course a really dark day in Tasmania’s history,” she said.

“I don’t think there would be a Tasmanian who isn’t impacted in some way.”

Gunman Martin Bryant is serving 35 life sentences and will die in prison.