Current firearm laws in Australia

The possession and use of firearms in Australia is governed by state laws. However, legislation was partly aligned by the 1996 National Firearms Agreement (see below). Anyone in Australia wishing to buy, own, or use a firearm is required to have a Firearms Licence and must be over the age of 18. In Queensland, a minor may use a Category A or Category B firearm under the direct supervision of an adult, who is licenced for the type of firearm being used.[1] Applicants for a firearms licence must have a secure safe storage unit bolted to the wall or floor or have it weigh more than 150kg if it is used only for the storage of category A, B and C firearms, with separate lockable ammunition storage.

For every firearm, a purchaser must obtain a Permit To Acquire. For each firearm a "Genuine Reason" must be given, relating to pest control, hunting, target shooting, or collecting. The law excludes self-defense as a reason for issuing a licence.

Firearms in Australia must each be registered to the owner by serial number. Some states (eg QLD and NSW) allow an owner to store or borrow another owner's firearm of the same category, while others do not (eg WA).

Firearms categories

Firearms in Australia are grouped into Categories with different levels of control. The categories are:

• Category A: rimfire rifles (not semi-automatic), shotguns (not pump-action or semi-automatic), air rifles, paintball guns, and airsoft/soft air rifles (depending on State). (For Category A an applicant must give an acceptable "Genuine Reason" for owning that firearm.)

• Category B: centrefire rifles (not semi-automatic), muzzleloading firearms made after January 1st, 1901 (For Category B and higher, the applicant must prove a "Genuine Need" for each firearm of that category.)

• Category C: semi-automatic rimfire rifles, pump-action or semi-automatic shotguns holding 5 or fewer rounds. (Restricted: only some farmers and collectors can own working Category C firearms)

• Category D: semi-automatic centrefire rifles, pump-action/semi-automatic shotguns holding more than 5 rounds (Category D Firearms are effectively banned: only those who have an occupational need of culling large animals may own a functional Category D weapon [2].)

• Category H: handguns including air pistols, deactivated handguns and airsoft guns not exceeding 65 cm in total length. Target shooters can acquire handguns of .38" calibre or less.

(Participants in "approved" competitions may acquire handguns up to .45", currently Single Action Shooting and Metallic Silhouette. IPSC shooting is not "approved" for the larger calibres, for unstated reasons. Category H barrels must be at least 100mm (4") long for revolvers, and 120mm (4.8") for semi-automatic pistols, and magazines are restricted to at most 10 shots. (In most other countries low-powered air/soft air/BB handguns are completely free of licencing requirements.)

• Category R: restricted weapons: machine guns, rocket launchers, assault rifles, flame-throwers, anti-tank guns, Howitzers, artillery, .50 BMG calibre weapons, etc. (Collectors in some states only, weapons must be comprehensively deactivated. Deactivated firearms are still subject to the same storage and licensing requirements as 'live' firearms in many States.)

Antique firearms can in some states be legally bought, owned (and, in some states, used) without licences. In other states they are subject to the same requirements as modern firearms.

Single-shot muzzleloading firearms manufactured before January 1st, 1901 are considered antique firearms in all cases. Antique percussion revolvers and cartridge repeating firearms require licenses in all states except Queensland and Victoria, where an individual may possess such a weapon without a license, so long as the weapon is registered.