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20 JUNE 2025 ausdoc. com. au
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Police reassure GPs over gun checks
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TRIMBOW1
THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
* Trimbow is the only triple therapy PBS listed for severe asthma in two strengths and COPD( 100 / 6 / 10) 2
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ASTHMA 2
Commander Lawrence Panaia.
Trimbow 100 / 6 / 10 & 200 / 6 / 10 are indicated for maintenance treatment; in adults with asthma not adequately controlled with a maintenance combination of medium dose or high dose ICS / LABA respectively, and who experienced ≥1 exacerbation( s) in the previous year. Trimbow 100 / 6 / 10 is indicated in adults with moderate to severe COPD who are not adequately treated by ICS / LABA or LABA / LAMA. 1
PBS Information: Authority required( STREAMLINED). Severe Asthma. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease( 100 / 6 / 10 mcg presentation only). Criteria Apply. Refer to PBS for full information.
Please review Product Information before prescribing. Product Information is available by scanning the QR code.
Abbreviations: COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; ICS: inhaled corticosteroid; LABA: long-acting beta 2 agonist; LAMA: long-acting muscarinic antagonist; PBS: Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme; pMDI: pressurised metered dose inhaler. References: 1. Trimbow Approved Product Information. 2. Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme( PBS). www. pbs. gov. au. Chiesi Australia Pty Ltd, Hawthorn East, VIC. 3123, Australia. Tel: + 61 3 9077 4486; Fax: + 61 3 8672 0792; Email: medinfo. au @ chiesi. com. Copyright © Chiesi 2025. All rights reserved. Date of preparation: January 2025. AU-TRI-2500008. CHIE00211C.
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28 / 1 / 2025 10:28 am
Top cop says the Commissioner of Police is the ultimate decider on who is granted a gun licence.
Paul Smith POLICE in WA say doctors signing off a patient as fit to hold a gun licence will not be responsible if they subsequently misuse their firearm.
The State Government introduced controversial new laws requiring gun owners to submit health assessment certificates signed by their GP in March.
The move followed the murder of Jennifer Petelczyc and her 18-yearold daughter, Gretl, who were gunned down last year by Mark Bombara, the ex-partner of a friend they were trying to help, before he turned the gun on himself.
A review found that police had failed to assess whether Mr Bombara was a fit and proper person to hold a firearms licence despite being warned of his deteriorating medical condition by his family.
He also had a long history of abusive, controlling and coercive behaviour.
Before the killings, his mental state was also deteriorating, partly due to a recent minor stroke.
Some 90,000 gun owners in WA, including farmers and those working in pest control or security, will now have to undergo mandatory health checks in the coming years.
But doctors are concerned about their role.
‘ At the end of the day, [ doctors are ] protected.’
The RACGP says those in rural communities will be under pressure conducting the fitness tests, especially if refusing certification to someone affects their livelihood.
There is also concern about the clinical complexity of the assessments,
Jennifer Petelczyc( left) and daughter Gretl. which cover cognitive and physical capacity as well as psychiatric histories.
With some doctors flagging that they will not carry out the assessments, Commander Lawrence Panaia from the WA Police Force says doctors will not be held responsible for any subsequent adverse event involving the misuse of a firearm.
“ We worked for about the last 18 months with the Health Department and the RACGP to get these health assessments,” Commander Panaia told the ABC last month.
“ 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.” The WA Police Force has produced an 18-page guideline booklet for checks, formally known as the Firearm Authority Health Assessment, where doctors are advised that, to use a firearm safely, applicants require the ability to“ accurately aim at and hit a target”,“ hold the firearm steady” and possess emotional and impulse control.
In the assessment, GPs should examine the applicant’ s mental and physical health history but also advise their patient if a medical condition, treatment or behaviour over the past five years could impact their ability to handle a firearm safely.
The guidelines go on to warn doctors that they could be subject to hostility should“ patients fear the possibility of restrictions or loss of their firearm authority”.
An RACGP web poll last year revealed that 80 % of the 1300 GPs surveyed were unwilling to carry out a health assessment, while only one in 10 said they would complete one for a patient.