By Luke Voogt
Geelong Military Re-enactment Group (GMRG) has won its battle against fee hikes that threatened its Anzac Day commemorations.
Police Minister Lisa Neville recently guaranteed fees affecting re-enactors would not rise for at least 12 months, according to GMRC president Jason Boulter.
“It’s excellent!” he said.
“Now we can continue to provide the services for the community which we’ve done for many years.”
Earlier this year the government proposed introducing fees of $413 for currently-free permits to use firearms in populous places and increasing firearm licence costs.
But the Victorian Government added exemptions for re-enactment groups following state-wide lobbying.
“Police Minister Lisa Neville was heavily canvassed by our members I can assure you of that,“ Mr Boulter said.
“Once she was made aware of this situation she made the right decision and common sense prevailed.“
The exemption protected GMRG’s activities in ceremonies like the Torquay Anzac Day Dawn Service, Mr Boulter said.
“That cost doesn’t go to the RSL, which it would have if the changes had come into place.”
State Government had also planned to increase fees for semi-automatic firearm and automatic long arm licences (Category D and E) by $114 to $367.50.
“We estimate that 70 per cent of D licences are held by reenactors,” Mr Boulter said.
“All the E licences are probably held by reenactors because there is no other reason for owning a firearm of that type under legislation.”
GMRG had modified all of its weapons to fire only blank ammunition, he added.
An accountancy firm recommended the increases after reviewing firearm licences on behalf of Victoria Police, Mr Boulter said.
“I think it’s clear that the people doing the review were completely driven by cost-based analysis economics with very little understanding of who actually owns these firearms.”
But Ms Neville wrote to Mr Boulter to say the licence fees would not increase for 12 months, he said.
“All of that pressure meant she had to have a bit of a look at it and see why the fees were rising.”
Ms Neville detailed the government’s updated firearms policy on 24 May in a written statement to parliament.
The Government “highly valued” GMRG and similar groups volunteering at ceremonies and educating the public, she said.
“Their presence contributes to the solemnity of important commemorative occasions.”
Her statement guaranteed historical re-enactment groups would pay no fee for permits to use a firearm in a populous place.
“The government has listened to the submission of the Geelong Military Re-enactment Group,” she said.
