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Two-time Olympic shooting gold medallist Michael Diamond has failed in his bid to get a 10-year gun licence ban overturned.
Key points:
- Michael Diamond's gun licence was banned after several convictions
- Police argued he was not fit to hold a licence despite his sporting achievements
- A tribunal found it would be "contrary to the public interest" for Mr Diamond to hold a gun licence
Diamond, 50, had his Category A firearms licence revoked in 2018 after he was found guilty of firearms and drink-driving charges in Port Stephens, NSW in 2017.
He has been challenging the decision of then-NSW Police Commissioner Mick Fuller with a review by the Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
In a submission to the tribunal in 2022, the commissioner's representatives stated that Diamond had also been involved in a series of domestic incidents.
"The police were called to domestic incidents involving the applicant 12 times between 2003 and 2021," the submission said.
It was outlined that in one incident, on May 21, 2016, Diamond was reported to be "aggressive and very intoxicated and drove off in his vehicle with a firearm".
"During the period he was also the subject of AVOs which were revoked."
The tribunal was told it was not in the public interest for Diamond to hold a gun licence.
"The applicant's domestic history shows a lack of self-control and this poses a risk to public safety," the submission continued.
"The applicant's traffic record shows a disregard for public safety, including his own and for the law.
"The applicant's contraventions of firearm laws, further supports that it is not in the public interest for the applicant to be authorised to possess a firearm."
Diamond told the tribunal he had a genuine reason for the licence and wished to be authorised to use and possess long arms as a member of a target shooting club.
His legal team said Diamond had a mentor to help him with business and relationship issues, and that he was fit to have a licence.
"The applicant has had a 29-year professional shooting career, having won gold medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships," Diamond's submission read.
"He has been trusted to compete and travel with firearms during this time."
The tribunal affirmed the 10-year licence ban after finding it would be "contrary to the public interest" for Diamond to hold a firearms licence.