VICTORIANS will be safer and guns will be kept out of the hands of those who shouldn’t have them under new laws.
The Firearms Amendment Bill 2026acts on four recommendations from the Rapid Review into Victoria’s Firearms Laws conducted by Ken Lay AO APM.
Victorian firearms licences will be restricted to Australian citizens, New Zealand citizens who are permanent residents of Australia and non-citizens who need a firearm for work.
This ensures that the background information supplied from other jurisdictions as part of the licensing process, such as criminal record checks, is as reliable and accurate as possible.
There will also strengthened background checks. Once regulations are introduced by the Commonwealth, if you want a firearms licence you will be required to complete a background check through AusCheck.
Harsher penalties will be in place for those caught trafficking firearms, with up to 15 years in prison for people possessing bigger numbers of guns.
The laws will also expand the Chief Commissioner of Police’s power to temporarily reclassify firearms.
This will allow Victoria to respond faster to new technology and emerging threats.
The Firearm Prohibition Order scheme will also be made permanent.
Another seven recommendations in the review do not require legislation and will be progressed in consultation with Victoria Police and other stakeholders.
Minister for Police Anthony Carbines said this did not discourage gun owners who follow the rules.
“We’re taking quick action to stop the wrong people getting their hands on a single gun,” he said.
“These are sensible changes that don’t disadvantage the vast majority of gun owners who do the right thing.”
