NSW Nationals leader says new gun laws will mean more weapons are transported around the MNC
“You don’t expect an employee to bring their own guns to work, just as you would not expect them to bring their own tractor to work.”
Peter Holmes
February 18, 2026
Hundreds of people descended on a Kundabung farm that doubles as a gun shop on Tuesday to protest and learn about new firearm laws.
What happened: In the wake of the Bondi terror attack, the NSW and federal governments passed legislation that includes limiting gun ownership to four per person, or 10 for primary producers, pest controllers and sporting/target shooters.
The laws are yet to come into effect, and before they do Farmers NSW and National Party MPs on the Mid North Coast are agitating for alterations, particularly around gun limits.
Local voice: Tuesday’s information session about the gun law changes was organised by State Nationals MP Michael Kemp (Oxley). State Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh (Coffs Harbour) attended the event at Old West Guns in Kundabung - about 18km west of Crescent Head - as did federal National MP Pat Conaghan (Cowper) and Robert Borsak Member of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party.
Hundreds of people gathered at the Kundabung property on Tuesday, February 18. Picture supplied.
Singh told the Mid North Coaster that landowners who employ shooters to cull pests on large farms will be forced to move weapons between properties under new gun legislation.
He gave the example of a farmer who employed people to work on their property to eradicate pests.
“They need different calibre guns for different pests,” he said. “And if you’re a farm owner, you don’t expect an employee to bring their own guns to work, just as you would not expect them to bring their own tractor to work.”
The MP said a property owner with large acreage may need multiple people working at the same time with different calibre firearms. The 10-gun limit could make this problematic, he said, adding that on some “big properties”, or on holdings where a landowner’s acreage was spread across different sites, farmers may have gun safes at more than one home.
Singh said limiting the number of guns to 10 would lead to more weapons having to be transported around the Mid North Coast.
(L-R) Federal National MP Pat Conaghan, state Nationals leader Gurmesh Singh (Coffs Harbour), and State Nationals MP Michael Kemp (Oxley) attended the information session at Old West Guns in Kundabung. Picture supplied.
Competition impacted: Sporting shooters would also suffer, the MP said, as they competed in up to eight disciplines requiring different firearms, and needed not only a “good competition gun but another one for training”.
“It’s no different to being a competitive cyclist,” Singh said.
No change yet: The Nationals’ attempts to convince the Minns government to allow more than 10 weapons to be held under certain provisions have been so far unsuccessful.
Singh said the fact the regulations have not yet been finalised or introduced has led to a confusion among gun owners.
Kemp described the legislation as “a rushed, knee-jerk reaction that unfairly targets firearm users who follow the rules”.
“Lawful firearm owners should not be punished because of the horrific attack at Bondi,” Kemp said. “This event was the first step. We must keep the pressure on.”
Lobby group NSW Farmers is calling for more consultation and some exemptions.
What next: Attendees of the Kundabung meeting were encouraged to contact the Premier and the Police Minister regarding their concerns and to sign the NSW Parliament petition currently before the House of Parliament.