In September 2018, with the support of ACF, the Alannah & Madeleine Foundation launched the Australian Gun Safety Alliance, in response to increased resourcing and mobilisation by the gun lobby to overturn and water down Australia’s gun control regulations. For the first time in Australia there is a broad-based, representative, and authoritative public voice advocating for and defending strong gun laws in Australia.

The AGSA is now 30 members strong and has become a recognised stakeholder in the issue of firearm policy, engaging with all jurisdictions across Australia. It has become a voice that the media and other commentators can turn to for balanced insight into the issue of firearms and community safety and is an authoritative voice on National Firearms Agreement compliance.

COVID-related restrictions earlier this year led to the shutdown of gun shops in Western Australia, Queensland, and Victoria, after a spike in gun permits and a run on ammunition sales. There was a public outcry by the gun lobby, including the National Shooting Council’s (NSC) decision to take legal action against these states. The NSC has continued to pursue this legal action despite the lifting of the shutdown and they appear to be the only recreational organisation that has pursued legal action against states who have put public health restrictions in place in response to COVID-19.  

With nine elections set to take place across Australia over the next 32 months, the work of the Australian Gun Safety Alliance could not be more important.  If the events of the last few months are any indication, Australians will need a strong national alliance to provide a strong public safety voice to balance the political messaging of the Australian gun lobby.

The Uluru Leadership Group recently held a “Zoom Cuppa” to bring together its many supporters, share an update on its work and to reflect on the how re-affirming and uplifting Australia’s response has been so far.

“We are on the precipice of historic change and we are calling on you to keep walking with us.”

For those of you who weren’t able to join, or for those who may wish to listen again, please click this link and enter the password: Uluru2020.

The Uluru Leadership have come this far on the back of philanthropists and organisations who have contributed many, many smaller donations, and a few major gifts. The team expresses a sincere thank you to all that have supported this important initiative. Over the past 12 months almost $1 million has been donated to the Uluru Statement General Fund. These funds have enabled two leadership dialogues in Cairns and Yarrabah; the Uluru Youth Summit in Cairns and Yarrabah; constitutional workshops with our expert legal team in Noosa and Cairns; and a workshop at UNSW Sydney that brought together the nation’s leading constitutional law scholars. 

ACOSS responded to the Government’s decision last week to reduce the JobSeeker payment by $300 per fortnight in September. CEO Cassandra Goldie also joined a panel of experts on ABC’s Q+A episode Fight Of Our Lives (pictured above). The Australian Communities Foundation added our voice to the RTR campaign by writing to Ministers Frydenberg and Ruston and asking for a permanent and adequate increase to the JobSeeker rate.