Firearm traffickers to face tougher penalties after new bill introduced to Australian parliament

Penalties for Australians found guilty of trafficking illegal firearms are set to rise with the Federal government ready to introduce a new bill to Parliament on Wednesday.

If the bill is successful, anyone found guilty of trafficking illegal firearms into Australia will face up to 20 years in jail, double the existing maximum.

Currently, there is a five-year minimum sentence for offenders and a maximum of 10 years.

Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan said on Wednesday that the legislation was an important step in curbing the growing incidence of gun-related crime.

"In this security landscape we must provide ample and instant information that identifies the patterns and associations that can help detect and disrupt significant threats," Keenan said in a statement released on Wednesday.

"We must also punish those who seek to use weapons to do our communities harm."

"Tough sentences for illegal firearm trafficking sends a strong message that gun-related crime and violence is a serious threat to the safety of all Australians."

The bill comes as state police forces have voiced growing concern at the prevalence of illegal firearms on the streets.

Victoria Police Association Secretary Ron Iddles said earlier this year that officers were finding guns every two days when pulling over cars in Melbourne's north and west.

Iddles also said there was a gun-related crime in Victoria every six days and it was only a matter of time before a major incident occurred involving illegal firearms.

"Police have got to be hyper-vigilant, got to be concerned, number one, about their safety," he said.

"I hope nothing happens but with the amount of firearms that are out there, there will be, you would assume some sort of incident and hopefully it's not our members that are involved." Endit