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People formally charged with domestic violence in Western Australia will have their firearms confiscated under proposed law changes.
Premier Roger Cook made the announcement on Sunday and said the update was part of a wider plan to tighten the state’s firearms laws.
“We want to protect women. We want to make sure that we take a cautious approach and that safety is our number one priority,” Cook said.
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“As a result, these new laws will require the police to mandatorily seize guns from someone who is the subject of a formal domestic violence complaint.
“Now, a lot of people will say they’re too tough (but) we believe the main goal should be to keep people safe.”
The announcement comes after a Perth man shot dead his ex-wife’s girlfriend and her daughter in a double homicide last week.
Mark Bombara killed Jenny Petelchitz and her 18-year-old daughter Gretel Petelchitz at their home in the suburb of Floreat before taking his own life.
Bombara believed his ex-wife was staying at Florat’s house.
His daughter, Arielle Bombara, claims WA Police ignored repeated warnings that her father was dangerous and had several weapons.
A forthcoming internal police investigation will look into the interaction with Bombara’s daughter and ex-wife, who fled “in fear of their lives”.
Bombara said their pleas for help were “repeatedly ignored” and they were “repeatedly failed” by police.
However, Washington Police Commissioner Col. Blanche rejected allegations that police did not act after the women approached them.
“To say that nothing has been done is wrong. A lot has been done,” he told ABC radio earlier this week.
Cook said he wanted the legislation passed by Parliament’s winter recess at the end of June.
“I want these laws to be adopted as a priority. I want them to go through parliament as soon as possible,” Cook said.
He said the State Government was open to further expanding its gun laws as the investigation into the Floreat murders continued.
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