Page 1 February 2017
What’s New
Release of the National Firearms Agreement
The National Firearms Agreement (Agreement) has been updated and
agreed upon by all jurisdictions.
The updated Agreement can be viewed by clicking on the following link:
https://www.ag.gov.au/CrimeAndCorruption/Firearms/Documents/2017-
national-firearms-agreement.pdf
All jurisdictions understand the importance of appropriately regulating
firearms and the updated Agreement maintains a balanced approach to the
regulation of firearms.
In summary, the key changes include the Agreement being streamlined to
make it easier to read and understand and the incorporation of the National
Handgun Agreement and other national police ministerial decisions so the
Agreement is now the single reference point for firearms regulation in
Australia.
Lever action shotguns were also reclassified by the Agreement. Under the
original Agreement, all lever action shotguns were classified as Category A
firearms where as under the new Agreement lever action shotguns are
classified as follows:
• Category B – Lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity no
greater than five rounds.
• Category D – Lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity
greater than five rounds.
To implement the above lever action shotgun reclassification within NSW,
legislative amendments to the NSW Firearms Act 1996 will be required.
This will affect some owners of lever action shotguns.
Page 2 February 2017
Release of the National Firearms Agreement
The legislative amendment has not yet occurred within NSW to give effect
to the reclassification, therefore, all licence holders in possession of a lever
action shotgun are authorised to continue to possess and use their firearm
in accordance with the authority and conditions of their respective licence.
The NSW Police Force Firearms Registry will notify affected firearm licence
holders in writing once further details are available and decisions on
timeframes and options available to affected firearm licence holders have
been finalised.
Any enquiries on this matter can be submitted via the Contact Us page on
this website.
