Keeping a Register of Acquisition and Disposal of Weapons

This is the theatrical ordnance supplier’s record of all transactions involving a weapon coming into the theatrical ordnance supplier’s possession.  You will be required to produce this register to police for inspection at any reasonable time.

This register is to be retained by the licensee until the licence is surrendered, suspended or revoked, at which time the licence and the register must be surrendered to the local police for forwarding to the Weapons Licensing Branch where a full desk top audit and reconciliation will be conducted. On ceasing to trade, all registers are to be surrendered to police to enable a reconciliation of the Register.

The theatrical ordnance supplier must notify an authorised officer, using the approved form (Form 10), of each transaction involving a weapon within 14 days of the transaction, by registered post (section 58(5) of the Weapons Regulation 1996).

A firearm is deemed to be “unlicensed in possession” if the firearm is not in the register without reasonable excuse.

Keeping a register of Theatrical Ordnance Weapons for use in Theatrical film or television production

Section 119 of the Weapons Act 1990 stipulates that a theatrical ordnance suppliers licensee must personally supervise a person who has been supplied with their firearms to ensure it is being properly used. 

A licensed theatrical ordnance supplier must, for each transaction of the acquisition, sale, supply, rental or transfer of a weapon, enter immediately in the ordnance register.

Annual Return

The Weapons Act 1990 requires every licensed Theatrical Ordnance Supplier to furnish, in the approved form (Form 12 – Licence Dealers Return form), particulars of all weapons held in stock as at midnight on 30 June every year.  All weapons held for any purpose (other than personal weapons approved to be stored on the premises) as at 30 June every year must be recorded on the return.  This information must be forwarded to the Weapons Licensing Branch.

Theatrical Ordnance Employees

Under section 116 of the Weapons Act 1990, any employee who handles weapons must hold a licence. These employees, under section 116, would be qualified weapons employees and they must be:

• at least 18 years; and
• hold a licence

In the course of employment as a qualified weapons employee, a person may possess any category of weapon that his or her employer is authorised to possess.

Applicants for this type of licence need to provide a letter from their employer stating that they are an employee of the business and need to access weapons as part of their everyday duties. 

Persons using Theatrical Ordnance supplied firearms

A person may have physical possession of and use a weapon supplied to the person by a theatrical ordnance supplier for use in a theatrical film or television production if the use is personally supervised by the theatrical ordnance suppliers licence holder.