Since its formation in the 1990s, in an attempt to expand its appeal, the Shooters Party has added ‘Fishers’, in 2009, and in 2016, ‘Farmers’, to the groups it claims to represent.

As a farmer in the state’s Central West for the past 40 years, I have taken particular notice of the recent advertisements and mailed flyers from the office of Phil Donato, the state member for Orange.

I have been surprised there is no reference to the party’s policies to water down the National Firearms Agreement introduced by John Howard and Tim Fischer following the Port Arthur massacre.

Since the introduction of the agreement, which involved a ban on automatic and semi-automatic weapons, there have been no mass shootings in Australia.

Under existing laws, farmers and sporting shooters can still access the firearms they need.

The current laws are working well for Australia – the balance is right.

Yours faithfully,