Core components of Australian gun law
The national framework includes a licensing and registration system, firearm restrictions, and a genuine reason requirement for ownership.
- Licensing and permits:
- To own a firearm, a person must first obtain a license and a separate permit for each weapon purchase.
- Applicants must be 18 or older, pass background checks for criminal and mental health history, and complete safety training.
- A minimum 28-day waiting period is mandatory for first-time buyers.
- Genuine reason:
- A "genuine reason" for owning a firearm must be demonstrated, and it cannot be for self-defense.
- Acceptable reasons include primary production (farming), sport/target shooting, pest control, and collecting.
- License holders must provide evidence of their genuine reason, such as club membership for target shooters or property access for hunting.
- Firearm restrictions:
- The NFA banned most semi-automatic rifles and shotguns from civilian ownership.
- Firearms are categorized, with strict regulations on different classes of weapons.
- Category D weapons, which include semi-automatic centrefire rifles and high-capacity shotguns, are generally restricted to government agencies and specific occupational users.
- Category R covers military-grade weapons like machine guns and rocket launchers, which are heavily restricted.
- Buyback schemes and amnesties:
- Following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre, the federal government funded a mandatory buyback scheme that removed more than 640,000 newly prohibited firearms from civilian hands.
- In 2003, a handgun buyback program was implemented after the Monash University shootings.
- Australia has held multiple gun amnesties since 1996, allowing people to surrender unregistered or unwanted firearms without penalty.
