Firearms registry review: Act triggers rarely used coalition clause amid disagreement with National

The Act Party has invoked the “agree to disagree” clause in its coalition agreement with the National Party in relation to the firearms registry. Nicole McKee, the associate Justice Minister and an Act MP, claims a review of the registry fell short of the standard promised in the Act-National coalition agreement and National has refused to allow another review take place. “The purpose of the review was to establish a clear evidence base, covering public safety impacts, government costs, compliance burdens for licensed firearms owners and international comparisons.

In my view, the review failed to deliver on these objectives,” McKee said. The “agree to disagree clause” found in the coalition agreements allows for the parties to maintain different positions on certain issues in public. Despite that, “a minister’s support and responsibility for the collective Government position must always be clear”.



McKee launched the review of the registry last year to establish whether it was “effectively and efficiently improving public safety”..