GPs in Western Australia concerned about conducting fitness tests for firearm licences
The WA government has introduced the sweeping new laws in the wake of the high-profile murders of Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-year-old daughter Gretl.
But a recent poll of doctors by the Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) found 80 per cent said "no" when asked whether they'd be willing to provide a firearms health assessment for their patients.
Dr Mariam Bahamia, deputy chair of the RACGP in WA said its members held many concerns about the fitness tests.
"The RACGP supports measures that reduce the potential for firearms harms," Dr Bahamia told ABC Radio Perth.
Dr Bahamia said for GPs in rural and remote areas, conducting fitness tests and in particular — refusing someone certification — could place them under pressure in a small community.
"These GPs live alongside their patients in the same community," she said.
"We wouldn't want any new laws having unintended consequences, such as straining community relationships or the therapeutic relationship that a GP has with their patients.
She said doctors also have reservations about saying whether a person is suitable to possess a firearm for five years on the basis of one assessment.
"The question really broadly being asked is whether the individual has anything that could impact their ability to have the safe use and possession of a firearm, which could impact themselves or others.
"GPs have been reluctant to become proxy decision makers as to the eligibility to be granted a firearm authority.
"We are not the only decision makers when it comes to the new firearm authority laws, there are many, many different stages that applicants have to go through. But for us, this is new."
Unlike drivers licence assessments, which mainly involve judging a patients' physical and cognitive capacity, the firearms assessments require complex judgements about a patient's mental health.
"With the firearm license, there's a heavy emphasis on mental health and perhaps, substance abuse and history of violence or suicidal ideation and the cognitive stability of a patient.
"We have to have information about past psychiatric diagnoses and medications, and there's a different complexity and professional judgement involved when issuing a firearm health authority.
"In a way we're being asked to judge risk based sometimes on incomplete information."
Dr Bahamia said the system was still in the first weeks of implementation and as time passes, the RACGP would get a clearer picture of what GPs are experiencing.
Commander Lawrence Panaia from WA Police said doctors should not be concerned about being held responsible if someone misuses a firearm after passing a health assessment.
"We worked for about the last 18 months with the health department and the Royal College of GPs to get these health assessments," Commander Panaia said.
"If that's a service that a patient is asking them to provide, it's their choice whether they do or don't.
"But what they've also got to remember is that the commissioner of police is the final decision maker in granting someone a licence, not the medical profession.
"At the end of the day, they're protected."
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7 hours ago
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Why does everyone get sick so often in winter?
Welcome to Ask Doctor Zac, a weekly column from This week, Dr Zac Turner explores why so many people get sick in the winter. QUESTION: Hi Dr Zac, Every winter like clockwork, my sharehouse becomes a snotty, coughing mess. I always assumed it was just because me and my flatties are inside more, but I read something about viruses surviving longer in colder temperatures. Is that true? And does the lack of sun during winter actually mess with our immune systems? – Matt, 29, Ballarat VIC ANSWER: Thanks for the question, Matt – and condolences to your household's sinuses. Winter really does bring with it a revolving door of colds, flus and respiratory infections. It's not your imagination. And while yes, spending more time indoors definitely helps viruses spread, the science of why we get sicker in winter runs a bit deeper – and chillier – than that. Let's start with the temperature. Many common viruses, including rhinoviruses (the ones behind most colds) and influenza, actually survive longer and replicate more effectively in colder, drier conditions. One study from the Journal of Virology found that some viruses become more stable and infectious in lower temperatures because the cold preserves the viral envelope – essentially giving them a longer shelf life while they search for their next victim (you). Add in the fact that we're all breathing the same stale air indoors, and it's a perfect storm: less ventilation, more close contact, and viruses that are thriving in the cold. Now, let's talk about vitamin D. This isn't some wellness influencer's pet obsession – it's genuinely important for your immune function. Vitamin D helps regulate immune responses, and deficiency has been linked to increased susceptibility to infections, particularly respiratory ones. In winter, shorter daylight hours and less skin exposure to UVB rays means your body produces less vitamin D naturally. In fact, data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows nearly one in four Aussies have insufficient vitamin D during the colder months – especially in southern regions like Victoria and Tasmania. So yes, Matt: cold temperatures, indoor living, and low vitamin D levels all team up to make winter a bit of a microbial minefield. What can you do about it? • Maximise ventilation: Even cracking a window makes a difference. Let your house breathe. Get outside during daylight hours: A lunchtime walk could help top up your vitamin D – just 10–15 minutes of sun exposure to arms and face can help. • Eat immune-supporting foods: Fatty fish, eggs, mushrooms and fortified milks are great sources of vitamin D. And yes, supplements are helpful if you're deficient – but check with your GP before starting. • Practice good hygiene: Wash hands, cover coughs, and maybe don't share that water bottle with your sniffling housemate. A few smart habits can help make your winter less snotty – and keep your immune system in fighting form until the sun comes back. Stay warm, Dr Zac Dr Zac Turner is a medical practitioner specialising in preventative health and wellness. He has four health/medical degrees – Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery at the University of Sydney, Bachelor of Nursing at Central Queensland University, and Bachelor of Biomedical Science at the University of the Sunshine Coast. He is a registrar for the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine, and is completing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering (UNSW). Dr Zac is the medical director for his own holistic wellness medical clinics throughout Australia, Concierge Doctors.
