You may be traveling to the range and practicing your skills, or driving to meet your mates at the start of a hunt. Either way, it’s vital that you understand what the legal requirements are when it comes to traveling with your firearm.
The laws are not always crystal clear, which can be frustrating and confusing for gun owners in
Australia. However, following the guide below, you can ensure that you stay on the right side of the law when you are traveling with a firearm in Australia.
Before you visit your local gun shop or start looking at pistols for sale online, it’s important that you understand what is involved when it comes to transporting your firearm safely.
Depending on which State or Territory you are based in or which you will be traveling to, the laws can be different, so it’s crucial that you are aware of your obligations ahead of time.
Let’s take a look at what you need to know about traveling with firearms in Australia, state-by-state.
New South Wales
In New South Wales, police can carry out on-the-spot inspections of firearms, permits, and licenses when you are carrying them. To ensure you are operating within the limits of the law, you must comply with Section 39 of the Firearms Act 1996.
This states that you must “ensure the firearm in their possession is safely kept; that it is not lost or stolen; and that it does not come into the possession of a person who is not authorized by a license or permit to possess or use it.”
Queensland
If you are traveling with a firearm in your vehicle in Queensland, your vehicle must have a lockable boot. Alternatively, you can keep your firearm in a metal box that is fixed to the vehicle. The box should not suggest that it contains a firearm.
Victoria
Under Section 126 of the Victorian Firearms Act, it states that when in transit, a “firearm is carried and used in a manner that is secure and is not dangerous; and must take reasonable precautions to ensure that the firearm is not lost or stolen.”
Western Australia
Western Australia does not have any specific laws in place relating to traveling with firearms. However, the Firearms Act Section 24 does discuss police powers in relation to the inspection of licenses, ammunition, and firearms themselves.
South Australia
Like WA, South Australia does not have any specific laws regarding traveling with firearms. However, they do have strict regulations in place relating to firearm storage which must be adhered to.
Tasmania
As well as following the same regulations as other states in relation to preventing loss or theft of a firearm, Tasmania also has other requirements in place that you should be aware of.
The additional requirement in Tasmania states that your firearm should not be easily accessible to a person who is in a normal seated position while the vehicle is moving.
Australian Capital Territory
In Section 236 of the ACT Firearms Act, on-the-spot inspections of firearms by the police are addressed as well as the storage of firearms, specifically in vehicles. It states that the person who possesses the firearm must take all reasonable steps to ensure the weapon is stored safely.
Northern Territory
In Northern Territory, a firearm that is stored in a vehicle that is left unattended, away from the place where the firearm would normally be stored, must be placed in the boot or in another secure, lockable compartment of the vehicle.
The firearm must also be stored out of sight, and the owner must take all reasonable precautions to ensure that the firearm cannot be stolen or removed from the vehicle in question.
Make Sure You Take The Right Precautions When Travelling With Firearms
Although each state and territory’s regulations and laws differ ever so slightly, it’s important that you understand what is required of you.
As a general rule of thumb, you should always ensure that you take every precaution possible to ensure your firearm is safely secured and stowed to make it as difficult as possible for it to be lost or stolen.
With this approach, you can ensure that you are making every effort to stay within the law, regardless of where in the country you are traveling.
