Here is what your MP’s have been up to the past few weeks in parliament.
Standing Up for Families, Firearms Owners, Regional NSW and Government Accountability
The final sitting week before the winter break was another busy one in Parliament, with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party continuing to stand up for the people too often ignored by the major parties. From holding the Government to account over firearms policy and defending the rights of victims to protect themselves, to standing up for property rights, hunters and regional communities, Robert Borsak and Mark Banasiak continued pushing for practical, common sense solutions for New South Wales.
Standing Up for Lawful Firearms Owners
Firearms policy remained one of the biggest issues of the sitting week, with both Robert Borsak and Mark Banasiak continuing to challenge the Government over policies that target licensed firearms owners while failing to address organised crime.
Robert questioned the Treasurer over funding for the proposed national firearms buyback, demanding transparency about how much money has actually been allocated and whether lawful firearms owners will receive fair compensation. While the Government confirmed funding had been set aside somewhere within the budget, it refused to disclose the amount or explain how compensation would be calculated. Robert warned that without proper funding and transparency, firearm owners are right to question whether this is becoming a compulsory acquisition dressed up as a buyback. He also challenged the Government over its $126.2 million crime fighting package, questioning who will actually be held accountable for reducing gang violence and criminal firearm use. Robert argued that if organised crime is the real threat, government resources should be directed towards criminals rather than continually imposing new restrictions on licensed shooters.
Mark reinforced that message during debate on the Budget, renewing his call to repeal the rushed post Bondi firearms laws. He argued that most of those laws remain unproclaimed despite being pushed through Parliament as supposedly urgent legislation, further demonstrating they were driven by politics rather than evidence. Mark said the Bondi Royal Commission continues to expose intelligence and administrative failures inside government agencies rather than failures by licensed firearms owners and again urged Parliament to support his repeal bill instead of punishing responsible shooters.
Click on the link below to watch Robert’s Question Without Notice on the gun buyback and to watch Mark’s Take Note speech:
Click on the link below to watch Robert’s Adjournment Speech on how legal gun owners, not criminals, are being held responsible for gun crime:
The Right to Defend Your Family
Mark Banasiak introduced the Crimes Amendment (Use of Force Against Intruders) Bill to strengthen legal protections for people forced to defend themselves against violent intruders. Using the recent Keith Blessing case as a powerful example, Mark argued that innocent people should never have to fear becoming the accused after protecting themselves or their loved ones from violent criminals. The Bill would provide greater certainty for people who reasonably use force to defend themselves in their home, workplace, vehicle or farm while making it clear victims should not be expected to retreat from their own property.
Mark stressed that the legislation is about protecting victims, not encouraging vigilantism, with clear safeguards to ensure force can only be used in genuine self-defence situations. He said ordinary Australians should not have to spend years wondering whether surviving a violent home invasion will result in criminal prosecution or financial ruin simply because they acted to save their family.
Mark also gave notice earlier in the month of a motion highlighting the growing impact of rural crime across western and regional New South Wales. He pointed to evidence showing stock theft alone costs NSW farmers around $60 million each year, while theft of machinery, fuel, fencing and farm equipment continues to rise. Mark called for stronger frontline policing, greater transparency around police staffing in country communities and tougher penalties for repeat rural offenders, arguing regional families deserve the same level of protection as those living in metropolitan areas.
Click on the link below to watch Mark’s second reading speech:
Click on the link below to watch Mark’s Notice of Motion:
Protecting Property Rights and Demanding Genuine Consultation
Robert Borsak continued his long standing advocacy for regional landholders by introducing legislation aimed at strengthening property rights and improving consultation before governments rezone or reclassify land. The proposal responds to growing concerns that productive agricultural land is increasingly being affected by planning decisions without proper consultation or meaningful opportunities for affected landholders to object.
Mark Banasiak also challenged the Government’s handling of consultation on proposed dog training regulations under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. His notice of motion highlighted correspondence from the Professional Dog Trainers of Australia and Canine Sports Illawarra disputing the Government’s claim that meaningful consultation had taken place. Mark argued stakeholders were only invited into the process after key decisions had already been made and called on the Minister to explain the apparent discrepancies in information provided to Parliament. The motion reinforces the Party’s commitment to genuine consultation, transparency and government accountability.
Click on the link below to watch Robert’s contribution:
Click on the link below to watch Mark’s Notice of Motion:
Science Continues to Support Public Land Hunting
Robert Borsak continued advocating for conservation hunting by highlighting new research showing recreational hunters play an important role in reducing deer populations while saving taxpayers significant money. The study found substantially lower deer numbers in areas where hunting was permitted and strong public support for expanding hunting opportunities across suitable public land. Robert said the research reinforces what hunters have demonstrated for years that licensed conservation hunters provide an effective, practical and cost-efficient contribution to feral animal management.
Also on 4 June, Mark Banasiak gave notice of a motion recognising newly released figures from the Victorian Game Management Authority showing recreational hunters harvested more than 156,000 deer during 2025. Importantly, the survey showed hunters targeted a higher proportion of female animals, demonstrating that licensed recreational hunters are actively reducing breeding populations rather than simply harvesting trophy animals. Mark said the figures further reinforce the valuable contribution hunters make to controlling wild deer, protecting agricultural land, supporting environmental management and providing sustainable wild harvested meat, while also delivering important economic benefits to regional communities.
Click on the link below to watch Robert’s speech:
Click on the link below to watch Mark’s Notice of Motion:
Protecting Girls Before Birth
Robert also spoke in support of the Abortion Law Reform Amendment (Sex Selection Prohibition) Bill, arguing that no child should lose her life simply because she is a girl. While acknowledging the broader abortion debate involves deeply held personal beliefs, Robert said this legislation addresses a simple principle that should unite everyone, that girls should never be discriminated against before they are even born.
Robert argued Australia should reject cultural attitudes that place greater value on sons than daughters and ensure unborn girls receive the same dignity and protection as boys. He said protecting vulnerable lives and defending the equal worth of every child is entirely consistent with the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party’s longstanding commitment to respect for life and individual dignity.
Click on the link below to watch Robert’s speech:
Repealing the Post Bondi Firearms Laws
Mark Banasiak also introduced the Firearms Legislation Amendment (Reforms Repeal) Bill, delivering on the Party’s commitment to reverse the rushed firearms reforms introduced following the Bondi attack. Mark argued the legislation unfairly targets licensed firearm owners despite the overwhelming majority of the reforms still not being in force and despite continuing evidence that intelligence and administrative failures within government agencies were at the heart of the tragedy.
The Bill would repeal the uncommenced provisions introduced last year and reverse amendments to the Firearms Act and Firearms Regulation. Mark said public safety is strengthened by fixing intelligence failures, improving accountability and targeting organised criminals, not by imposing additional burdens on responsible firearms owners.
Click on the link below to watch Mark’s announcement:
As Parliament rises for the winter break, the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party remains committed to standing up for regional communities, defending lawful firearms ownership, protecting property rights and ensuring government decisions are based on evidence rather than political convenience. We will continue holding the Government to account and fighting for the freedoms, livelihoods and common sense values that matter to the people of New South Wales.
Thank you for your continued support!
