Tasmania proposes tougher penalties for stolen guns, but no ownership limit

The Tasmanian government has introduced proposed firearms legislation that significantly toughens penalties for the theft and illegal possession of firearms. However, the laws will not impose limits on the number of guns a licensed individual can own, a measure supported by some gun safety advocates and Tasmania's Police Commissioner but opposed by the government.

“

The Bondi terrorist attack showed the devastating consequences of a failure to share intelligence across jurisdictions and agencies.

These proposed amendments to the Firearms Act come in the wake of the antisemitic terror attack in Bondi last year, which resulted in 15 deaths. The federal government had urged all states and territories to implement a National Firearms Register and tighten firearm laws, including reclassifying certain weapons and requiring Australian citizenship for gun licenses. It also recommended limiting the number of firearms an individual could possess.

“

These reforms are about making sure the right information is available to law enforcement when they are making decisions about who should have access to firearms.

Tasmania's proposed legislation incorporates several of these measures, including its participation in the National Firearms Agreement. Police Minister Felix Ellis stated that the reforms aim to ensure law enforcement has the necessary information when deciding on firearm access, referencing the Bondi attack as an example of intelligence sharing failures. The reforms also include reclassifying specific center-fire rifles and shotguns to a more restrictive Category C license, establishing Australian citizenship as the default eligibility for firearms licensing with limited exemptions for New Zealand citizens, and introducing magazine capacity limits for certain firearms.

“

We have committed to compensation of 1.5 times market value for the firearms being reclassified, and any other voluntary buyback at market value.

The state government is also negotiating with the federal government regarding funding for a gun buyback scheme. Tasmania has committed to compensating individuals at 1.5 times market value for reclassified firearms and at market value for any voluntary buybacks. The proposed amendments also introduce a mandatory minimum jail term of three months for individuals convicted of stealing firearms or possessing stolen guns, with Ellis emphasizing that stolen firearms fuel the black market and endanger communities.

“

If you steal a firearm, or you're caught with a stolen firearm, you should expect to spend time behind bars.