Firearm prohibition orders are used with varying conditions in three Australian states and are mostly targeted at motorcycle gangs, including the Hells Angels and Rebels.
In New South Wales, anyone served with a firearm prohibition order faces heavy penalties for possessing firearms, cannot knowingly be in the company of people with firearms, and cannot knowingly reside at or visit a location where there are firearms.
Bennett rejected most recommendations from the select committee's near year-long inquiry. Five of the committee's nine members are National MPs, and it is chaired by National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi.
The committee inquiry had caused concern among some gun owners and widespread changes would have been a controversial issue in election year.
Rejected recommendations include requiring police to record serial numbers of all firearms upon renewal of licence or inspection, requiring a licence to possess ammunition, and making dealers keep records of ammunition sales.
Bennett also declined to act on the recommendation to investigate the creation of a category of restricted semi-automatic rifle and shotgun.
Federated Farmers national board member Katie Milne said the rejected recommendations would have done little to stop firearms getting into the hands of criminals.
"The farming community is frustrated with poorly thought out solutions to real problems that simply burden law abiding citizens," Milne said.
"We are pleased to see the Government has listened and is directing attention to where it should be."
Labour's police spokesman Stuart Nash said he believed Bennett had "got it 100 per cent right", and backed the same recommendations he had come to believe were needed.
As a member of the select committee he had received a large amount of feedback after the recommendations were released, including through public meetings. Nash said he came to realise many of the recommendations wouldn't help keep guns out of the hands of criminals.
He said in documents obtained by Labour under the Official Information Act police had admitted officers' understanding of the law around firearms was lacking, and this came down to a lack of funding.
Act leader David Seymour said it was a relief to learn Bennett would reject most recommendations, that went "far beyond" targeting illegal gun possession.
Bennett said the committee report was well intended, but she thought many recommendations would unduly affect legal firearm users.
"Nobody wants firearms getting into the hands of violent gang members but we also don't want over-the-top rules and restrictions to be placed on hunters and shooters who manage their firearms responsibly."
Bennett today announced two additional Government recommendations, including the power to suspend licences pending a decision on revocation, and for police to improve consultation with the firearms community.
Bennett said further consultation would be carried out before Cabinet is asked for approval on changes later this year.
Last year all parties in Parliament backed the establishment of the inquiry, after the shooting of four police officers in Kawerau last year, and the discovery of a cache of guns was found stashed in the ceiling of a South Auckland home, including 14 military-style guns, among them AK47s and M16s.
Government response to committee recommendations:
1. A firearms licence required to possess ammunition. Reject.
2. A dealer's licence required to sell ammunition. Reject.
3. Dealers required to keep records of ammunition sales. Reject.
4. Registration process for websites facilitating trading in firearms, parts, or ammunition. Partial rejection - not registration but clarify "mail order" process applies to online sales.
5. Permit to procure extended to cover all sales or transfers of firearms (i.e. include A-category firearms). Reject.
6. Investigate the creation of a category of restricted semi-automatic rifle and shotgun. Reject.
7. Implement firearm prohibition orders. Accept.
8. Codify the "fit and proper" criteria in the Arms Act. Reject.
9. Implement a stand-down period after licence revocation. Accept.
10. Clarify that gang members or prospects must not be considered "fit and proper" to possess firearms. Accept.
11. Require Police to record serial numbers of all firearms upon renewal of licence or inspection of premises. Reject.
12. Review the penalties in the Arms Act. Accept.
13. Treat dealer offending as aggravated at sentencing. Reject.
14. Determine appropriate security standards for A-category licences. Accept.
15. Secure storage confirmed before licence or endorsement received. Reject.
16. Allow Police to enter premises to inspect security of A-category firearms. Reject.
17. Failure to comply with storage regulations to result in mandatory revocation. Reject.
18. Clarify and publicise the extent of amnesty provisions in the Arms Act 1983. Accept.
19. Police publicise amnesty provisions. Reject.
20. Check that firearms brought in on visitors permit are exported or transferred legally. Accept.
Additional Government recommendations:
1. Provide the power to suspend licences.
2. Police to improve its consultative processes with the firearms community.
