Australia, Sept. 10 -- New South Wales Land and Environment Court issued text of the following judgement on Aug. 11:

1. This is an application for review of a decision of the Commissioner of Police, NSW Police Force, the respondent in these proceedings ("Respondent") to revoke a firearms licence held by the applicant, Anthony Jon Helsby ("Applicant"). The Applicant contests that revocation.

Background

2. The Applicant had attempted self-harm in around 1980 when he was 17 years old. He was, at the time of the hearing, 61 years old.

3. The Applicant held various firearms licences from 21 May 1998 until suspension of his firearms licence on 29 May 2024 and its subsequent revocation on 10 January 2025.

4. On 11 February 2008, the firearms registry received from the Applicant, an application for a firearms licence. In that application, the Applicant answered "no" to the question: "have you in NSW or elsewhere .... attempted suicide or self harm or being referred for alcoholism, drug dependence, or a mental or nervous disorder or illness?"

5. On 28th April 2012, the Applicant made a further application for a firearms licence. In that application, the Applicant answered "no" again to the following question: "Have you in NSW or elsewhere ... have you ever attempted suicide or self harm, or in the past 12 months been referred or treated for alcoholism, drug dependence, or a mental or nervous disorder or illness?"

6. On 18 April 2016, the Applicant made another application for a firearms licence. In the 2016 application, the Applicant answered "yes" to the following question: "Have you in NSW or elsewhere ... have you ever attempted suicide or self harm, or in the past 12 months been referred or treated for alcoholism, drug dependence, or a mental or nervous disorder or illness?"

7. In June 2016, the Respondent sent a letter to the Applicant requesting that he undertake a mental health risk assessment within 8 weeks. That assessment was subsequently made.

8. The assessment, among other things, said that the history suggested that the Applicant had been able to exercise continuous or responsible control over firearms and that the Applicant did not pose a risk to the general public. The assessment also said that unless circumstances changed significantly, the Applicant had a "strong sense of responsibility for providing financially for his family".

9. Following the assessment in question, the Respondent granted the Applicant's application for a firearms licence.

10. On 27 April 2021, the Applicant applied again for a firearms licence. He answered "yes" to the question concerning attempted suicide or self-harm.

*Rest of the document can be viewed at: (https://www.caselaw.nsw.gov.au/decision/19887108957c4fa9094dae99)

Disclaimer: Curated by HT Syndication.