SSAA Western Australia

Membership List 12/5/12

A large number of members have contacted us to express concern that a member has demanded to view our membership list. The Executive certainly shares these concerns.

• The law governing this is very specific (Incorporated Associations Act). There is no exemption provided for within the Act.
• We are not obliged to simply hand over a copy of the membership database – the legislation requires that it be made available for viewing and that the applicant can copy details.  
• We have sought legal advice from a number of avenues and are continuing to investigate a variety of options.
• We have met (and continue to liaise with) senior staff from the Department of Commerce (the agency responsible for administering the Act). They are aware of and are sympathetic to our situation.
• This has been raised with the police Minister and his advisors and our concerns as to possible consequences made clear to them. A number of MP’s, The Attorney General, the Leader of the Opposition and the Opposition Spokesman for Police have also been informed.
• We have been dealing with this issue for some time and will do whatever is possible to prevent members details being compromised.
• There are several possibilities for us to resolve this issue depending upon the individual who has made the demand and upon pending legal advice to us. 
• The Act requires that a name and postal address only should be available for viewing and there are several options as to how this is actually formatted (possibly given name and initial only for surname). The address can be a post office box number or if applicable the postal address for a club. We appreciate this is small comfort for people who can be located in a phone book or for non club members. If you wish to change your address you need to contact the National membership office by email and request the change, quoting your membership number but please appreciate that a large number of requests will take time to process.
• mem@ssaa.org.au
• We continue to stress to the authorities the seriousness of this issue and it’s  potential for misuse. The individual has not stated the purpose for his demand (and is not required to under the legislation) but if his intent is to mail other members we have the option of a third party (Dept. Commerce) doing so on his behalf.
• If we are ultimately forced to comply we will notify members first.
• Many of you have asked that the individuals name and address be made available should membership details be released. This will be done subject to legal advice.

What you can do:- Contact your member of Parliament. Tell them of your concerns and the potential this situation has for firearm and public safety. This can only be addressed by a change in the law and this can only be done by an Act of Parliament.        

If you wish to contact us to express your concerns or with specific questions please do so. We have been getting a huge number of contacts – if at all possible please use email and every effort will be made to answer as soon as time permits.

WAPOL are currently running a blitz on safe storage, ensure yours is compliant!

Over the past week there has been a large number of safe inspections across the city, of particular interest to the police are a few key points in the regulations.

Most notably amongst these are the requirements under shedule 4 of the firearms regulations, outlined below.

Please ensure your safe is affixed in accordance with the regulations, it must have at least 2 bolts in 2 opposing surfaces, and these must have 40mm x 2mm washers. NOTE, 38, or 39mm washers will not be passed.

Other items to check, does it have a 10mm return on the edges of the door?

Also ensure you do not have any loose ammunition, it must be stored in accordance with the regulations. Ammunition must not be in the same compartment as any firearms.

The regulations make it quite clear what needs to be done, if you are unsure please read the regulations below.

If you need washers we have so far been made aware of the following sources, please feel free to inform us of any other sources you may be aware of via webmaster@ssaawa.org.au

Astra Metals in Malaga

Wesfire in Wangarra

Claremont Firearms in Bibra Lake

Coventrys Fasteners, various locations across the state.

Schedule 4 Specifications for storage cabinets  <---This is the most important section.

Firearms Act 1973

Firearms Regulations 1974

Weapons act 1999

Weapons Regulations 1999