Senator Bridget McKenzie on Labor's Gun Laws and the Bill to Repeal Them

SSAA National CEO Tom Kenyon sits down with Senator Bridget McKenzie, National Party Senator for Victoria, to talk through everything that has happened since Bondi: the rushed NSW laws, the federal bill that went through in January, the Coalition's fight against it, why she resigned from shadow cabinet, and the private senator's bill she introduced in August to repeal the firearm parts of Labor's legislation. Bridget also shares how a kid who wasn't from a shooting family (and had to carry the rabbits while the boys spotlighted) ended up a hunter, a Senator and the founder of the Parliamentary Friends of Shooting. Plus the "banned" Beretta shooting jacket she has been carrying around Parliament House, the mythical belt-fed shotgun, and her straight answer on One Nation. The bill: Firearms Legislation Amendment (Repealing Unfair Gun Laws) Bill 2026, introduced 14 August 2026. If you are in Victoria, Bridget's office wants to hear from you. If you have questions for her, drop them in the comments and we will pass them on. Thanks to SSAA Victoria for the studio, the mugs and the antlers. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome and who's on set 01:03 Growing up in north-east Victoria 02:42 Getting into politics and winning preselection 05:40 Carrying the rabbits: how Bridget got into shooting 07:24 SSAA, ADA and Field & Game: why shooters can't stay in silos 09:09 Pollies vs Press: the annual clay shoot with the press gallery 11:50 How the media has treated shooters since Bondi 13:45 Be loud, be proud: why shooters need to stop hiding 15:38 The Wangaratta gun club episode and the Australia Post fight 17:39 Bondi, Chris Minns and the NSW laws 19:39 "A deflection": the PM, the royal commission and the buyback 21:59 The January federal bill explained 23:50 Show and tell: the banned shooting jacket and speedloader 25:53 ASIO appeals, fair market value and the 50/50 buyback split 28:34 How the pushback stopped a national buyback 30:14 Why Bridget resigned from shadow cabinet (again) 33:55 The private senator's bill: what it repeals 36:14 Can it pass? Inquiry, Senate numbers and the House 38:33 Firearm forums across Victoria and staying united 40:44 The One Nation question 44:14 Wrap-up and how to contact Bridget Subscribe for more from the SSAA. Contact Senator McKenzie: https://www.bridgetmckenzie.com.au Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.ssaa.org.au/newsletter/ Join: https://membership.ssaa.org.au/ Follow: https://linktr.ee/SSAASocials