REVIEW OF THE FIREARMS ACT 1973 (WA)PROJECT 105 DISCUSSION PAPER

OCTOBER 2015

THE LAW REFORM COMMISSION OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

COMMISSIONERSCHAIR: Dr D Cox BSc (Hons), PhD (UWA), LLB (Hons) (Murd)

MEMBERS: Dr A Zimmermann LLB, LLM (PUC-Rio), PhD (Monash)Ms F Seaward BComm, LLB (Hons) (UWA), from 26 August 2015Mr A Sefton BComm, LLB (Hons) (ANU), until 25 August 2015 Government of Western Australia

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Law Reform Commission of Western AustraliaLevel 12, Westralia Square141 St Georges TerracePerth WA 6000Australia

Telephone: +61 8 9264 1340Facsimile: +61 8 9264 6114

ISBN: 978-1-74035-044-0

Printed by Scott Print, Western Australia

Portions of text in this Paper may be reproduced with due acknowledgement.

Except for the purposes of researchand subject to the provisions of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth)all other forms of graphic or textual reproduction or transmission by any means requires the written permission of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia.

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LRCWA Project 105 l Review of the Firearms Act Discussion Paper 1

TABLE OF CONTENTSABBREVIATIONS USED ............................................................................................................................................. 4

SUBMISSIONS ............................................................................................................................................................ 5

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................................... 6-7

1. TERMS OF REFERENCE ................................................................................................................................. 8-10

1.1 Background to Reference ..................................................................................................................... 8

1.2 Scope of Reference ................................................................................................................................ 9

1.3 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................... 9

2. THE NATIONAL FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................................................11-15

2.1 Firearms Legislation in Western Australia ..........................................................................................11

2.2 Background to the National Framework ............................................................................................11

2.3 1996 Amendments the National Firearms Agreement ...................................................................12

2.4 The 2002 National Firearms Agreements ...........................................................................................13

2.5 Approaches to the National Framework ............................................................................................15

3. PERSPECTIVES ON THE PURPOSE OF FIREARMS REGULATION .............................................................. 16-19

3.1 Differing views on firearm regulation and the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) .........................................16

3.2 The Commissions view .........................................................................................................................17

4. THE COMMISSIONS PROPOSALS AND QUESTIONS AT A GLANCE ....................................................... 20-37

5. THE FIREARMS ACT 1973 (WA) OVERVIEW ...........................................................................................38-43

5.1 Licensing regime grant of licences, permits and approvals ........................................................... 38

5.2 Powers of the Governor ...................................................................................................................... 38

5.3 Application process discretion of the Commissioner ..................................................................... 38

5.4 Categories and duration of licences ................................................................................................... 39

5.5 Conditions and endorsements on licences .........................................................................................41

5.6 Exemptions ............................................................................................................................................41

5.7 Revocation and refusal of licences, permit and approvals; appeals ................................................ 42

5.8 Reviews of decisions made under the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) ....................................................... 42

5.9 Structure of the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) ........................................................................................... 43

6. ADMINISTRATION OF THE FIREARMS ACT 1973 (WA) ............................................................................44-56

6.1 Licensing and application process ...................................................................................................... 44

6.2 Information storage 2013 Information Systems Audit Report by the Auditor General .............. 47

6.3 Application processing time delays ................................................................................................. 52

6.4 Application processing storage and pre-approval ......................................................................... 55

6.5 Fees for applications under the Firearms Act 1973 (WA) ................................................................. 56

2 LRCWA Project 105 l Review of the Firearms Act Discussion Paper

7. DEFINITIONS AND CATEGORISATION OF FIREARMS .............................................................................. 57-78

7.1 Definition of firearm in Western Australia ...................................................................................... 57

7.2 Definition of firearm in other jurisdictions ..................................................................................... 60

7.3 The Weapons Act 1999 (WA) .............................................................................................................. 62

7.4 Categories of firearms ......................................................................................................................... 63

7.5 Prohibited firearms .............................................................................................................................. 66

7.6 Antique mechanism firearms .............................................................................................................. 72

7.7 Inoperable firearms ............................................................................................................................. 75

8. APPLICATION OF THE FIREARMS ACT 1973 (WA) FIT AND PROPER PERSON ...................................79-85

8.1 Application of fit and proper person test case law ..................................................................... 81

8.2 Fit and proper person additional firearms ..................................................................................... 82

9. APPLICATION OF THE FIREARMS ACT 1973 (WA) GENUINE REASON AND

GENUINE NEED ....................................................................................................................................... 86-105

9.1 Genuine reason .................................................................................................................................. 86

9.2 Genuine need .................................................................................................................................... 95

10. APPLICATION OF THE FIREARMS ACT 1973 (WA) OTHER CONCERNS ............................................ 106-120

10.1 Persons under 18 ............................................................................................................................... 106

10.2 Lending firearms .................................................................................................................................107

10.3 Licence terms and renewals ...............................................................................................................110

10.4 Serviceability certificates ...................................................................................................................112

10.5 Extracts of Licence ..............................................................................................................................113

10.6 Training ...............................................................................................................................................114

10.7 Recognition of interstate licences .....................................................................................................115

10.8 International permits .........................................................................................................................116

10.9 Sports shooting ...................................................................................................................................117

10.10 Replacement firearms ............................................................................................................