WA pastoralists can now apply for a handgun licence after amendments were made to the existing regulations following concerns over occupational health and safety.
Last week Police Minister Rob Johnson amended the Firearms Act 1973 to allow pastoralists engaged in the mustering and yarding of cattle to apply for a Category H handgun licence.
The decision comes after 12 months of lobbying by pastoralists over the need for handguns for personal protection.
The licence is restricted to pastoralists who can demonstrate there is a genuine need to protect themselves from dangerous animals when mustering or yarding cattle and pastoralists will only be permitted to have one licensed handgun, which will be restricted to revolvers with a barrel length of over 10 centimetres.
Agricultural Region MLC Jim Chown said handguns and firearms had been part of the pastoral industry for the last 150 years and they were necessary, especially for pastoralists working alone.
"Some of the cattle haven't seen a person for two or three years, if not longer and they can be quite wild and ferocious," Mr Chown said.
"Nowadays, pastoralists have minimum help and a lot of them do it themselves.
"They require something that they can use if they are being charged or look like they are being hurt by a wild animal, and that may just be shooting in the air, it doesn't necessarily mean killing the animal."
Pastoralists must follow the normal application for firearms, which involves writing to the commissioner and justifying their application, which has to abide by the regulations of weapon type, weapon size, calibre type, before a licence can be granted.
Mr Chown said revolvers were far more practical and safer weapons to use while mustering on a motor bike or horse.
"The minimum barrel length means that the revolver is harder to conceal if they are lost or stolen," Mr Chown said.
"Revolvers also have a limited number of shots and it's a much safer option to have on you personally when you're mustering.
"A lot of the automatics don't have a safety hatch."
While the existing regulation did permit the granting of a handgun licence to a person in the course of their occupation, it was ambiguous because pastoralist activities were not defined as an occupation.
For the last two or three years, police have been revoking the Category H firearms licences from pastoralists, with most weapons handed into the police and destroyed.
Pastoralists who surrendered their handguns will still need to apply for a licence, and will have to legally obtain a new handgun.
"These proposed amendments are in no way an open invitation for every pastoralist to apply for a handgun licence because the amended regulations are very specific on who can apply for a Category H firearm," Mr Chown said.
"I congratulate the minister for listening to the pastoral industry and for amending the regulations so pastoralists can apply for licenses for a revolver type weapon, to ensure that they have a reasonably safe working environment in quite rugged situations when there are, at times, wild cattle."
Pastoralists and Graziers Association (PGA) president Rob Gillam said handguns were very essential for some pastoralists and for those who met the criteria it was a necessary occupational health and safety item.
"Some may have a handgun and not use it for a year or two, but the fact of the matter is when you do need it, you've got it with you at all times and it can be used quickly," Mr Gillam said.
"It's not something that will be used on an everyday or regular basis, but for those who need it, it's important they have got it when it's required."
Mr Gillam said it would have been ideal if the amendments were changed earlier but he was happy that common sense had gone through.
"It is a good outcome and those who require handguns will make the necessary application," he said.
"As long as they meet the criteria then there will be no problems.
"I don't know of anybody who has applied yet but I know of many who are going to apply.
"People are really happy that this situation has been rectified."
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