Genuine reasons (as they relate to weapon categories)

Category A and Category B weapons

Category A and B firearms are commonly used for a variety of purposes. Under the new laws, ownership of weapons within these categories is widely available.

You may apply for a licence for category A and B firearms if you are:

A member of an approved shooting club
For sports or target shooting, you need to provide proof that you are a current member of an approved shooting club. This may be a current membership card if you are applying in person, or a statement endorsed by the approved club, if you are mailing in your application.

A recreational shooter
You need to provide written permission from a landowner authorising you to shoot on the landowner's rural land. Providing details about the location, size and use of the land will assist in the processing of your application.

An occupational or rural shooter
This includes those owning a gun for rural purposes. You need to state why possession of a firearm is necessary for you to conduct your business or your job.

A firearms collector
Collections of category A and B guns may be owned if they are made temporarily inoperable.

Other reasons
Conducting a military re-enactment or an historical demonstration; starting a sporting event; or for a theatrical production.

Category C weapons

Category C firearms are restricted to ownership by primary producers, occupational shooters and competition clay target shooters. The ownership and use of category C firearms is restricted to those with specific occupational, rural or sporting needs.

You may apply for a licence for category C firearms if you are:

A competition clay target shooter
To own a category C shotgun, you must be a member of an approved shooting club that takes part in, or is affiliated with a body that takes part in, national and international clay target shooting competition.

If you bought your category C firearm or joined an approved club after 14 November 1996, you must demonstrate a physical need, due to lack of strength or dexterity, to use a category C firearm in clay target shooting. You will need to provide a statement supporting the existence of your need, signed by an authorised representative of an approved club. You may use the category C firearm at an approved range for clay target shooting and training purposes.

An occupational or rural shooter
If you have a need to own a category C firearm for a rural purpose which cannot be satisfied in another way, you can apply for a licence to own one category C rifle or shotgun, or both. You will need to be a primary producer or occupational shooter involved in work on rural land. Rural land means land not situated in any city or town or, in the case of a shire, in any township in the shire. Providing details about the size and use of the land will assist in the processing of your application.
In a circumstance where you need more than one category C rifle and one category C shotgun, you may only apply if the need arises because of the area or the location of the land involved. You may only use these firearms to satisfy the need stated on the licence.

A collector
You may own category C firearms if they are made temporarily inoperable.

Category D weapons

Ownership of category D firearms is restricted depending upon the reason for use. Category D firearms are generally only used for specific rural purposes such as culling large animals or stock control.

You may apply for a licence for category D firearms if you are:

In need of a firearm for occupational culling of large animals
You may apply for one category D firearm if you have a need, that cannot be satisfied in another way, to cull large animals. This need must be related to your business or employment.

You may only use the firearm for the purpose stated on the licence. The maximum term for a licence is one year.

A collector
You may own category D firearms if they are made permanently inoperable.

Category H weapons

Category H firearms include handguns and pistols and are generally used by pistol club shooters or the security industry.
You may apply for a licence for a category H firearm if you are:

A pistol club shooter
You will need to provide proof of current membership of an approved club. Other conditions apply – refer to Handgun Legislation Information – Sports and Target Shooters.

Occupational
You need a category H firearm for your occupation, such as the security industry and, in some cases, primary production.

A firearms collector
Category H firearms can be collected if they are made either temporarily or permanently inoperable. Handguns manufactured after 1900 that are temporarily inoperable must be shown to have an obvious and significant commemorative, historic, thematic or investment value and owners must be members of an approved historical society. It should be noted that all Category H firearms which have been rendered permanently in-operable are required to be registered to a licence and are no longer defined as replicas. Further conditions apply – refer to Handgun Legislation Information – Collectors.

Category M weapons

From 1 July 2003 Category M weapons are included in the Weapons Categories Regulation 1997. Category M include martial arts devices, crossbows, incendiary or inflammable devices and flick knives. Certain category M weapons can be held on a Collector’s, Miscellaneous or Group licence.

Category R weapons

Category R firearms include fully automatic machine guns and sub machine guns. Category R firearms are generally prohibited. Some licensees may possess some category R firearms if they are certified as permanently inoperable, or permanently restricted to blank-fire.

Restricted Items

What is an antique firearm?

An antique firearm is one manufactured before 1 January 1901 that is either; muzzle loading; or cap and ball; or a type approved as an antique by an authorised officer; or for which ammunition is not commercially available. Antiques are not required to be licenced however must be registered with the Weapons Licensing Branch within 14 days of acquisition.

What if my firearm is a family heirloom?

If the firearm is an heirloom, you must state in writing in your licence application that it has been willed to you or that you acquired it through the laws of succession. All categories of firearms must be made permanently inoperable.