MEDIAWATCH: Q+A shock exclusive on Nicole McKee demands Luxon sack her

Jesus wept…

Checking the record on Firearms Minister’s Q+A interview

Documents released to Q+A have raised questions about advice Nicole McKee says she gave in 2017 on a so-called loophole in firearms law – a loophole later used by the Christchurch terrorist.

However, the Associate Justice Minister said this week her advice was consistent with what she had said in a Q+A interview in August.

Before she became an ACT MP, McKee was appointed by then-police minister Paula Bennett to give independent advice on a select committee’s report into illegal gun ownership in New Zealand.

The 2017 select committee report raised concerns over the definition of military-style semi-automatics (MSSA). The committee said the law, as it was back then, would allow someone with the most basic gun license to legally buy an “A Category” semi-automatic firearm and, separately, buy a high-capacity magazine.

Because of the interchangeability of parts, the select committee said the “A Category” semi-automatic firearm could easily be transformed into what is supposed to be a highly restricted MSSA.

The select committee said it was difficult to enforce rules around conversions, and recommended the then-National government investigate creating a restricted semi-automatic rifle and shotgun category to address the so-called loophole. The government later rejected the recommendation.

Two years later, Christchurch mosque shooter Brenton Tarrant was able to use the loophole to build his weapons and kill 51 people.

In her August interview with Q+A, McKee said she supported tidying up the loophole during the 2017 select committee inquiry.

When asked if she used the unique opportunity of directly advising the minister in order to close the loophole, McKee said: “Definitely.”

Q+A has obtained a copy of written advice submitted by McKee and another independent advisor at the time, under the Official Information Act.

The loophole was not mentioned in the 12-page, 4000-word submission.

McKee and her colleague formally advised Bennett to reject the committee’s recommendation to look at reclassifying and potentially restricting semi-automatic firearms.

In her Q+A interview, McKee said she made that recommendation because she preferred a different option for closing the loophole by restricting access to high-capacity magazines.

“I advised the minister that she should put large-capacity magazines on an endorsed license.”

However, in the official advice to then-minister Bennett released to Q+A, there is no mention of high-capacity magazines.

Paula Bennett told Q+A this week she did not recall the loophole or restrictions on high-capacity magazine sales being brought up in conversation with Nicole McKee. The issue did not appear in her handwritten notes responding to the advisors’ comments.

McKee also provided feedback to the select committee in her capacity as a firearms safety specialist. Her submission did not refer to the loophole or restricting high-capacity magazine sales.

The only line Q+A could find in the official documents from that 2017 inquiry that could be interpreted as suggesting limits on magazines was in the Government response: “We are aware that experts in the firearms community have suggested alternative approaches. The Government remains open to hearing any such suggestions.”

It’s unclear if this relates to firearms, classification standards, magazine sales, or anything else.

When asked about the official advice released to Q+A, McKee said she was “certain” the issue was raised with the government at the time.

“I am certain this issue was raised with then-police minister Paula Bennett at the time of the inquiry. However, it was deemed to be outside the scope of the inquiry which was limited to the illegal possession of firearms.

“I recall raising it at every possible opportunity.”

It was McKee and her colleague who had advised Bennett that the select committee’s recommendation about the classification of semi-automatic firearms was out of scope for the original inquiry.

In the documents obtained by Q+A, the minister makes no such judgement. The select committee ultimately decided to include the loophole issue in its report.

At the time of the inquiry, McKee said she was also a member of the Firearms Community Advisory Forum, which “provides a formal channel for the firearms community to provide input to Police”.

McKee provided Q+A excerpts of minutes from forum meetings at the time which refer to restrictions on high-capacity magazines.

Only one of these meetings was held before she advised Paula Bennett on the select committee report, and the minutes do not recall who made the comments about high-capacity magazines.

…the certainty she spoke these claims vs the reality that there is no mention of her raising these concerns makes her evidence look as pitiful as Casey Costello’s ‘evidence’ to justify giving the Tobacco Industry $200million!

Put aside all the numerous other reasons she should be stood down (including the Police Association call for her to go because she is such a gun nut), lying straight to the face of a Journalist 3 times in a row in a live interview is surely a trust threshold worth fighting for?

What does Shane Jones, Chris Bishop, Simeon Brown, Nicole McKee and Casey Costello have to do to get sacked?

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