Tasmania's police minister apologizes for naming Port Arthur gunman

Tasmania's Police Minister Felix Ellis has issued an apology following comments made during budget estimates hearings where he named the perpetrator of the 1996 Port Arthur massacre. The apology comes after a survivor of the tragedy, speaking anonymously, stated that Ellis's decision to name the gunman demonstrated a "lack of empathy towards victims and survivors."

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demonstrates a lack of empathy towards victims and survivors

The Port Arthur massacre, which occurred on April 28, 1996, resulted in the deaths of 35 people and injured nearly two dozen, leaving lasting psychological scars on survivors and first responders. It remains Australia's worst mass shooting in modern history.

During the hearing, Labor police spokesperson Jen Butler questioned Minister Ellis about his engagement with Port Arthur survivors regarding proposed federal gun law changes in the wake of the Bondi massacre. While Tasmania has agreed to reclassify certain firearms and implement a buyback scheme, it opposes capping the number of guns an individual can own, a stance that contradicts advice from Tasmania's police commissioner.

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Probably the other point to make around Port Arthur, the key problem there was access from people who shouldn't have had access to firearms to automatic and semi-automatic weapons.

Ellis stated he had not personally met with survivors but would welcome a meeting and had consulted with the Alannah & Madeline Foundation. However, his exchange with Butler, where he referred to the gunman by name and argued that a firearms cap would not have prevented the massacre because the perpetrator did not own more than 10 firearms, caused significant upset. The survivor told the ABC that naming the gunman was "hurtful, it was disrespectful and it was indicative of a person who perhaps doesn't understand Tasmania or Tasmanians."

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You didn't grow up in Tasmania, did you, minister?

The survivor emphasized the ongoing struggles faced by those who lived through the massacre, highlighting difficulties with health, employment, and relationships. They expressed an expectation that a police minister would exhibit greater sensitivity and called for Ellis's apology, which he has now provided.

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No, but, Ms. Butler, I think one of the things you need to understand about Port Arthur, as well, is your cap on firearms wouldn't have solved that problem either because [the gunman] didn't have more than 10 firearms at Port Arthur.