18 Aug MISERY AWAITS AS COURIERS EXIT GUN SUPPLY CHAIN

Feral pig numbers would balloon, injured and unwell animals could be relegated to suffering cruel deaths and on-farm safety may be compromised following the abandonment of the licensed firearm industry by major freight carriers, Katter’s Australian Party MPs have warned.

KAP Leader and Traeger MP Robbie Katter said the decisions by TNT (now owned by American logistics giant FedEx), and more recently transport company Northline, to end or severely restrict the transportation of firearms, ammunition and gunpowder around Australia was a blow to the industry.

TNT, which has been the main provider of freight services to the firearms industry for decades, ended its services on August 9.

This is despite the industry being provided assurances its distribution chains would be unaffected as part of the FedEx merger.^[1]

Northline has also advised that from August 30 it will be severely restricting its firearm delivery services.^[2]

Mr Katter said the imposition of corporate ideals that shun the rights of licensed firearm owners would have serious impacts in rural and regional Queensland.

He said the KAP was now calling for the tax-payer owned transporter, Australia Post through its StarTrack courier service, to pledge it would fill the void left by TNT’s and Northline’s withdrawal.

“Licensed firearm users are without a doubt the most discriminated group of people in this country,” Mr Katter said.

“Our society has an unfounded phobia of guns that is pedalled by politicians who, instead of focusing on the root causes of crime and violence in our society, would much rather target those law-abiding citizens who have a genuine need for a firearm for work or recreational purposes.

“In North Queensland, we have four or five million feral pigs roaming about – destroying the environment, killing our native flora and fauna and apparently contributing to our carbon footprint.

“We can expect to see that number rise drastically if those hunters responsible for this vital form of pest control cannot reliably access firearms and ammunition moving forward.

“Further I’m concerned that farmers would be unable to humanely euthanise sick or injured animals on their properties or protect their stock from threats like wild dogs without access to firearms supplies.”

KAP Hinchinbrook MP Nick Dametto said the law enforcement and defence industries, both of which naturally relied on a secure weaponry supply chain, could also be impacted.

“Firearms are a vital tool for many and therefore I consider these freight companies to be turning their back on what’s really an essential service,” he said.

“If these companies cannot be compelled by Government to do the right thing, then the nationally-owned courier will need to fill this void with no impact on cost or delivery.”

Mr Dametto said there had been no recent State or Federal legislative or regulatory changes made associated with the transportation of firearms, which lead him to believe the carriers’ abandonment of the industry was motivated by ideology.

—ENDS—                                                                             

[1] https://sifa.net.au/fedex-tnt-cancels-the-entire-australian-firearms-industry/

[2] https://www.sportingshooter.com.au/latest/northline-freight-turn-their-back-on-firearm-shops-and-owners