Government passes on firearms measure

The federal government has failed for a second time to introduce mandatory jail sentences for people found guilty of illegal gun trafficking.

Legislation to impose minimum five-year sentences was removed from a bill that makes multiple changes to criminal law before it cleared the lower house on Tuesday.

The Australian Greens and Labor, who instead want the maximum sentence for firearm offences increased to life, teamed up to scrap the move - an Abbott government election commitment - in the Senate in August.