Malcolm Turnbull: Rhodes scholar, merchant banker, lawyer, technology enthusiast, republican. You thought you knew everything about the Prime Minister, but what about Malcolm the shooter?
Mr Turnbull was in Tasmania on Thursday to mark the 20th anniversary of the Port Arthur massacre and revealed another side of himself when drawn on the debate over gun laws.
"I'm a primary producer and have a firearms licence and I know exactly what you're talking about," he told Hobart radio station 7HO FM host Mick Newell, who told Mr Turnbull he was a recreational shooter and supported strict gun laws.
"Responsible gun use and gun ownership is a critical element. It is a critical part of our safety," Mr Turnbull added.
Mr Turnbull and wife Lucy own a Hunter Valley property that the Prime Minister inherited from his father. He has been filmed horse riding and planting trees in the green paddocks near Aberdeen and Scone before, but not shooting.
Mr Turnbull's father, Bruce, bought the land in 1981 but died in a plane crash the following year and is now buried in the property's garden.
In Parliament's register of members' interests, Mr Turnbull notes the pastoral property is used for primary production.
Mr Turnbull used the commemoration of the massacre, in which gunman Martin Bryant murdered 35 people and injured 23, to emphasise his support for tough gun reforms introduced by the Howard government.
"We owe much to the leadership of John Howard for the tough gun laws that resulted and we are united with him when he says that we should be vigilant against any weakening of them today," Mr Turnbull posted on Facebook.
The Coalition government instituted a wide-ranging crackdown on gun ownership, including a mass buyback of 700,000 firearms, following the 1996 massacre.
The debate over Australia's laws has flared as the National Firearms Agreement is reviewed for the first time since Mr Howard's reforms, and as a temporary ban on the Adler 110 lever-action shotgun nears expiry.
The Abbott government introduced a temporary ban on imports of the controversial shotgun last year after concerns were raised that it undermined the Howard reforms.
Mr Howard has expressed support for applying further restrictions on the weapon.
"I'll naturally wait and see what the inquiry recommends but anything that to me looks as though it waters down the laws that are in place now I won't support," Mr Howard said recently.
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Michael Keenan said that the classification of lever-action shotguns was being discussed by the federal and state governments as part of the review.
"We are hopeful of a resolution between jurisdictions regarding updates to the NFA before the expiration of the ban on August 12."
Fairfax Media has approached Mr Turnbull's office for comment.
