June 08'
Victoria's police will patrol the streets with semi-automatic guns within six months after a backflip by chief commissioner Christine Nixon.
Ms Nixon previously opposed moves to replace the .38 revolvers currently used but changed her mind following a recent police shooting, union pressure and an external panel recommending semi-automatics be introduced.
The Police Association ramped up its campaign for powerful semi-automatics following the shooting of Senior Constable David McHenry, 27, by criminal Samir Ograzden in Melbourne last month.
The decision brings Victoria in line with the rest of the country, but Ms Nixon denied plans to buy 6,500 semi-automatic guns was a "backdown" prompted by Snr Const McHenry's injury.
An independent advisory committee said police should be armed with semi-automatic weapons while $10 million in funding has already been allocated for a firearms upgrade in the State budget.
"For me, I've been able to be persuaded and if the evidence is strong then I'm happy to change my mind, and that's what I've done," Ms Nixon told reporters on Friday.
"For quite some time I've had concerns about the introduction of a new firearm, but after .... dealing with a number of the concerns I had I'm pleased we are able to make this move."
Those concerns included guns accidentally discharging or jamming, but Police Minister Bob Cameron told reporters the technology had improved substantially in the past year.
Semi-automatic Glock pistols have been used in NSW since 1996, when Ms Nixon worked there, and police in all other states and territories use semi-automatics.
Their introduction in NSW was prompted by a police shooting the previous year when officers Robert Spears and Peter Addison were killed by drunken electrician John McGowan, 35, who used a semi-automatic gun.
Police Association secretary Paul Mullett said the union was still considering suing Victoria Police over Snr Const McHenry's shooting for negligence in not using the funding to buy semi-automatic pistols.
Snr Sgt Mullett said police needed to be able to defend themselves against criminals who had access to "all sorts of superior weaponry be they semi-automatic shotguns and machine guns".
"We're programmed to have meetings with Snr Const McHenry and other members involved in that shooting to see if there's a common law right to sue the employer for what we believe was negligence in that they didn't have access to the superior firearm being the semi-automatic pistol," he told reporters.
"It's a victory for the Police Association and our broader members who told us three to four years ago that they required the better weapon."
It's hoped the weapons will be introduced within the next five to six months, once a supplier has been found and officers have been trained.
Ms Nixon ruled out taser or stun guns, which Snr Sgt Mullett said was disappointing.
"There is a touch of irony in the chief commissioner's email to the broader membership where in announcing semi-auto pistols she says she would prefer that non-lethal options be used," he said.
"Guess what: the taser is a non-lethal piece of equipment."