Dear Editor,
As a voter in the Orange state electorate I have serious concerns about the Shooters Party potentially holding the balance of power in what promises to be a close election.
Since its formation, in the 1990’s, in an attempt to expand its appeal, the Shooters Party has added ‘Fishers’, in 2009, and in 2016, ‘Farmers’, to the groups it claims to represent.
As a farmer in the state’s central west for the past 40 years, I have taken particular notice of the recent full page advertisements in the Land newspaper, advertising in the local paper and mailed flyers all from the office of Mr Donato, member for Orange.
Time and again I have been surprised that there is no reference, even in the fine print, to the Shooters Party Mr Donato represents, nor to the party’s policies to water down the National Firearms Agreement introduced by John Howard and Tim Fischer following the Port Arthur massacre.
Since the introduction of the Agreement, which involved a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons, there have been no mass shootings in Australia.
Under existing laws, farmers and sporting shooters can still access the firearms they need. The current laws are working well for Australia. The balance is right.
Michael Payten
Canowindra