Queensland nets 16,000 guns in amnesty

Queenslanders have handed in more than 16,000 firearms as part of the national gun amnesty.

The state government now says the quantity of the cache shows people support its plan to tighten weapons regulations.

"Queenslanders want our state to be a safe place, and the Palaszczuk government is committed to ensuring that is a reality," police minister Mark Ryan said in a statement on Friday.

The Labor government and the Liberal National Party on Wednesday agreed to restrict access to the high-capacity Adler lever-action shotguns, in line with last year's Council of Australian Governments decision, despite strong opposition from Katter's Australia Party.

Many of the weapons - about 9000 - handed in under this year's amnesty were shotguns and rifles.

Many were handed in at police stations in the state's central region, which includes Mackay, Capricornia and the Sunshine Coast.

Queensland Police Acting Deputy Commissioner Bob Gee said he was pleased with the response.

"This amnesty will help keep our community safe by ensuring those firearms don't fall into the wrong hands," he said.

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