Overview of the changes
The main changes which come into force on 24 December include:
- Individual licensing system:
- Application for firearms licence (section 23)
- Issue of licence (section 24)
- Fit and Proper clarification; (section 24A)
- General conditions on all firearms licences, including inspection of premises (including vehicles) where all firearms and ammunition are kept to ensure they are being stored securely (with 7 days’ notice) (section 24B)
- Graduated Response to individual licence holders for breach of the Act or licence conditions:
- Improvement Notices (section 60);
- Temporary suspension of licence Police pending possible revocation (section 60A);
- Power to require surrender of licence, arms items and ammunition while a licence is suspended (section 60B)
- Revocation and surrender of licence if holder becomes disqualified (s27B)
- Revocation of suspended firearms licence (s27C)
- Persons who are disqualified from holding a firearms licence (section 22H)
- Decision review system for refusal of a firearms licence application or revocation of a firearms licence (sections 62, 62A, 62B, 62C)
- Ammunition importing, buying and sales regime (sections 22D, 22E, 24C)
- Health Practitioner Requirements (sections 23(2A), 24(3) & 92)
- Dealer Graduated Response to breach of the Act or licence conditions
- Improvement notices (section 60)
- Temporary suspension of dealer’s licence pending possible revocation (section 60A);
- Effect of temporary suspension of dealer’s licence (s60C)
- Revocation of suspended dealer’s licence (section 9A)
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Fines and penalties: There are new offences (and/or new penalties) that commence:
- Restrictions on possession of
- non-prohibited magazines and non-prohibited parts (s22A) (new offence)
- ammunition (s22B) (new offence)
- Restrictions on selling/supplying ammunition (s22D) (new penalty)
- Failure of ammunition seller to keep records (s22E) (new offence)
- Restrictions on possession of