Jeff Bacon, the managing director of the Tamworth-based weapons manufacturer Oceania Precision, has been announced as the second candidate on the One Nation party’s ticket for the upcoming New South Wales state election. During his campaign introduction, Bacon expressed his opposition to existing state gun laws, which were originally enacted in the wake of the 1996 Bondi beach massacre.

Bacon argues that the current legislative framework is overly restrictive, asserting that every rifle model manufactured by his company is currently prohibited under these laws. His candidacy is supported by One Nation’s NSW leader, Mike Newman, and federal MP Barnaby Joyce, who participated in the announcement held in Tamworth. While the party has positioned Bacon as a candidate, his public stance on gun regulation highlights a direct challenge to the long-standing bipartisan consensus on firearm control in Australia. The debate centers on whether these post-massacre laws remain appropriate or if they unfairly penalize domestic manufacturers like Oceania Precision. As the election approaches, Bacon’s platform is expected to draw attention to the intersection of local manufacturing interests and national security policy.