Gun Buy Back Scheme - The Australian National Audit Office

Government to better meet the scheme’s objectives, or to provide
any information on the effect of OLEC’s advice to the States in
relation to Commonwealth reimbursement of payments for alreadyprohibited
firearms.
Conclusion
3 55 The scheme was implemented promptly, but there were some
unintended consequences. These included the surrender of
already-prohibited weapons and significant quantities of spare
parts for them. On OLEC’s advice, the States paid compensation
for these weapons. However, OLEC did not consult or
communicate with other elements of the Attorney-General’s
Department when making this decision to broaden the scope of the
compensation scheme. OLEC acknowledged that in doing so it
had overlooked the legislative requirements of the 1996 Act.
3 56 Based on information provided by relevant State officials, the
ANAO estimated that, of the $304 million paid by the States in
compensation, at least $7.5 million was paid on the basis of funds
advanced by the Commonwealth for weapons and parts which
were not included in the definition of qualifying compensation in the
1996 Act.
3 57 The Attorney-General's Department officers responsible for
authorising payments were not aware that OLEC had advised the
States that the Commonwealth would reimburse compensation
paid for already-prohibited firearms. Although continued
authorisation of payments to the States was not in breach of the
1996 Act, the ANAO considers that the Attorney-General's
Department officers’ lack of knowledge of OLEC’s policy decision
affecting the scheme indicates an evident weakness in the
management control framework.
3 58 The ANAO also noted that OLEC’s ad hoc approach to
compensation policy on already-prohibited firearms and the advice
to the States resulted in variations between the States in the
amounts paid for already-prohibited firearms and in the types of
weapons for which compensation was paid.
3 59 As well, the monitoring of the scheme was not sufficient to help the
Attorney-General's Department assess the achievements of the
program and if necessary recommend changes to the Government
to better meet the scheme’s objectives, or to provide any
information on the effect of OLEC’s advice to the States in relation
52 The Gun Buy-Back Scheme