Effective as of 24 December 2020 there are new provisions relating to the sales, purchase and possession of ammunition.
If you currently hold a dealer licence these changes do not apply to you, although dealers will need ensure that they will be able to keep records of ammunition sales by 24 June 2021 when new section 12(1)(b) takes effect. Dealer employees who hold firearms licences will continue to be able to sell ammunition (s 22D (1)).
Sale and Supply of Ammunition
These changes only apply to ammunition sellers. An ammunition seller is a person who is responsible for the day-to-day management of a business that includes selling or supplying ammunition.
It does not include:
- a licensed dealer
- a member of a shooting club, if the member sells ammunition:
- to a club member, or on club premises, with the approval of the management committee of the club or a majority vote of club members; and
- the sales revenue is used for the benefit of the club.
Who is affected
Persons responsible for the day-to-day management of a business selling or supplying ammunition
If you have a firearms licence
If you do not hold a firearms licence
Individuals wishing to sell ammunition
If you are a current firearms licence holder, who does not meet the definition of an ammunition seller (because you only occasionally sell or supply ammunition – for example, to a friend who is another member in your hunting party - and you don’t sell or supply ammunition in the way of business) you can continue to sell or supply ammunition to fellow firearms licence holders infrequently.
Being firearms licence holders both of you have obligations in this exchange to ensure the individual you are selling to or purchasing from is the holder of a firearms licence (including a licensed dealer) (s 22D).
It is an offence if you do supply or sell ammunition to a person who is not a firearms licence holder and you are liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 if you are unable to prove you took reasonable steps to ascertain they were a licence holder (s22D (5)). An exception to this is if you sell or supply ammunition to an individual for use under the immediate supervision of a firearms licence holder. This requirement extends to possession where the individual can only be in possession of the ammunition under the immediate supervision of that licence holder (s22D) – so the individual purchasing ammunition will need to have the licence holder who is going to be providing immediate supervision with them.
It is an offence if you sell or supply prohibited ammunition without reasonable excuse, and on conviction you are liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years (s 43AA).
If do not hold a current firearms licence you are unable to possess or sell ammunition.
Ammunition Possession
Non-prohibited magazines and non-prohibited part