FIREARMS ACT 1996 - NOTES
FIREARMS ACT 1996 - NOTES
Version No.
099
No. 66 of 1996
Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í Í
Version No. 099
Firearms Act 1996
No. 66 of 1996
Version incorporating amendments as at
Endnotes
1 General information
See www.legislation.vic.gov.au for Victorian Bills, Acts and current
Versions of legislation and up-to-date legislative information.
Minister's second
reading speech—
Legislative Assembly: 31 October 1996
Legislative Council: 3 December 1996
The long title for the Bill for this Act was "to re-enact, with amendments,
the Firearms Act 1958
Constitution Act 1975:
Section 85(5) statement:
Legislative Assembly: 31 October 1996
Legislative Council: 3 December 1996
Absolute majorities:
Legislative Assembly: 19 and 21 November 1996
Legislative Council: 5 December 1996
The Firearms Act 1996
Sections 1 , 2 on 17 December 1996: section 2(1) ; sections 3 , 189 and 196 on
6 February 1997: Government Gazette 6 February 1997 page 257—see
Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984 except
sections 201(3), 202) on 29 April 1997: Government Gazette 24 April 1997 page
921; sections 201(3) and 202 on 31 January 1998:
section 2(3).
INTERPRETATION OF LEGISLATION ACT 1984
(ILA)
Style changes
Section 54A of the ILA authorises the making of the style changes set out
in Schedule 1 to that Act.
References to ILA s. 39B
Sidenotes which cite ILA s. 39B refer to section 39B of the ILA which
provides that where an undivided section or clause of a Schedule is amended by
the insertion of one or more subsections or subclauses, the original section or
clause becomes subsection or subclause (1) and is amended by the insertion of
the expression "(1)" at the beginning of the original section or
clause.
Interpretation
As from 1 January 2001, amendments to section 36 of the ILA have the
following effects:
• Headings
All headings included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January 2001
form part of that Act. Any heading inserted in an Act which was passed before 1
January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms part of that
Act. This includes headings to Parts, Divisions or Subdivisions in a Schedule;
sections; clauses; items; tables; columns; examples; diagrams; notes or forms.
See section 36(1A)(2A).
• Examples, diagrams or notes
All examples, diagrams or notes included in an Act which is passed on or
after 1 January 2001 form part of that Act. Any examples, diagrams or notes
inserted in an Act which was passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on
or after 1 January 2001, form part of that Act. See section 36(3A).
• Punctuation
All punctuation included in an Act which is passed on or after 1 January
2001 forms part of that Act. Any punctuation inserted in an Act which was
passed before 1 January 2001, by an Act passed on or after 1 January 2001, forms
part of that Act. See section 36(3B).
• Provision numbers
All provision numbers included in an Act form part of that Act, whether
inserted in the Act before, on or after 1 January 2001. Provision numbers
include section numbers, subsection numbers, paragraphs and subparagraphs. See
section 36(3C).
• Location of "legislative items"
A "legislative item" is a penalty, an example or a note. As from 13
October 2004, a legislative item relating to a provision of an Act is taken to
be at the foot of that provision even if it is preceded or followed by another
legislative item that relates to that provision. For example, if a penalty at
the foot of a provision is followed by a note, both of these legislative items
will be regarded as being at the foot of that provision. See section
36B.
• Other material
Any explanatory memorandum, table of provisions, endnotes, index and other
material printed after the Endnotes does not form part of an Act. section 36(3)(3D)(3E).
2 Table of Amendments
Firearms Act 1996
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Police and Corrections (Amendment) Act 1997, No.
26/1997
Assent Date:
20.5.97
Commencement Date:
Ss 26 , 27 , 35 on 17.12.96: s. 2(2) ; ss 17 –25 ,
28 –31 , 34 , 36 , 37 on 22.5.97: Government Gazette 22.5.97 p. 1131; ss
32 , 33 on 2.10.97: Government Gazette 2.10.97 p. 2731
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Sentencing and Other Acts (Amendment) Act 1997, No.
48/1997 (as amended by No. 74/2000)
Assent Date:
11.6.97
Commencement Date:
S. 60(2) on 1.9.97: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Law and Justice Legislation (Further Amendment) Act 1997,
No. 84/1997
Assent Date:
2.12.97
Commencement Date:
Ss 41 –47 on 2.12.97: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms (Amendment) Act 1998, No.
22/1998
Assent Date:
5.5.98
Commencement Date:
Ss 1 , 2 on 5.5.98: s. 2(1) ; ss 3 –40 (b), 40 (d), 40 (f),
40 (h)–43 , Sch. on 6.8.98: Government Gazette 9.7.98 p. 1852; s. 40(c) ,
(e), (g) on 7.9.98: Government Gazette 3.9.98 p. 2342
Current State:
All of Act in operation
Public Sector Reform (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1998,
No. 46/1998
Tribunals and Licensing Authorities (Miscellaneous
Amendments) Act 1998, No. 52/1998
Assent Date:
2.6.98
Commencement Date:
S. 311(Sch. 1 item 30) on 1.7.98: Government Gazette 18.6.98
p. 1512
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Police Regulation and Firearms (Amendment) Act 1999, No.
30/1999
Assent Date:
1.6.99
Commencement Date:
Ss 30 –32 on 22.8.99: Government Gazette 12.8.99
p. 1889
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Psychologists Registration Act 2000, No.
41/2000
Corporations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2001 , No.
44/2001
Assent Date:
27.6.01
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 45) on 15.7.01: s. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Statute Law Further Amendment (Relationships) Act 2001,
No. 72/2001
Assent Date:
7.11.01
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 8) on 20.12.01: Government Gazette 20.12.01
p. 3127
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Control of Weapons and Firearms Acts (Search Powers) Act
2003, No. 9/2003
Assent Date:
6.5.03
Commencement Date:
Ss 9 –15 on 5.10.03: Government Gazette 2.10.03
p. 2538
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms (Trafficking and Handgun Control) Act 2003, No.
28/2003
Assent Date:
20.5.03
Commencement Date:
Ss 3(1)(a) –(e)(h)(i), 4 –9 , 11 –13 ,
15 –17 , 19 –22 , 29 , 38 –45 , 46 (1)(3), 47 –49 , 51 , 52 , 54 ,
56 –63 , 67 –73 on 1.7.03: Special Gazette (No. 130) 1.7.03 p. 1;
ss 3(1)(f)(g)(2) , 10 , 14 , 18 , 23 –28 , 30 –37 , 46 (2), 50 , 53 , 55 ,
64 , 65 , 66 , 74 , 75 on 1.1.04: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms (Amendment) Act 2003, No.
107/2003
Private Security Act 2004 , No.
33/2004
Assent Date:
1.6.04
Commencement Date:
S. 207 on 1.7.05: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Public Administration Act 2004 ,
No. 108/2004
Assent Date:
21.12.04
Commencement Date:
S. 117(1)(Sch. 3 item 78) on 5.4.05: Government Gazette
31.3.05 p. 602
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2005, No.
18/2005
Assent Date:
24.5.05
Commencement Date:
S. 18(Sch. 1 item 43) on 12.12.05: Government Gazette
1.12.05 p. 2781
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms (Further Amendment) Act 2005, No. 78/2005
(as amended by No. 50/2007)
Assent Date:
22.11.05
Commencement Date:
Ss 3(1)(b) , 6 (4)(6)(7), 12 (2)(b), 12 (3)(b)(c), 19 , 22 , 23 ,
25 , 26 , 28 , 30 (2), 31 , 32 , 35 –38 , 45 –47 , 49 –51 , 55 , 57 , 58 ,
61 (1)(2), 62 (1)(2), 66 on 1.1.06: Government Gazette 22.12.05 p. 2972;
ss 3(1)(a)(c)(d)(2) , 4 , 5 , 6 (1)(2)(3)(5), 7 –10 ,
12 (1)(2)(a)(3)(a)(4)(5)(6), 13 , 14 , 16 –18 , 20 , 21 , 24 , 29 , 30 (1), 34 ,
39 –44 , 52 , 53 , 56 , 60 , 61 (3), 62 (3), 63 on 1.7.06: Government Gazette
29.6.06 p. 1315; ss 11 , 15 , 27 , 33 , 48 , 59 on 1.10.06: s. 2(4) ; ss 64 ,
65 on 1.7.08: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Health Professions Registration Act 2005, No.
97/2005
Disability Act 2006 , No. 23/2006
Assent Date:
16.5.06
Commencement Date:
S. 238 on 1.7.07: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Statute Law (Further Revision) Act 2006,
No. 29/2006
Assent Date:
6.6.06
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. 1 item 11) on 7.6.06: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Infringements (Consequential and Other Amendments) Act
2006, No. 32/2006
Assent Date:
13.6.06
Commencement Date:
S. 94(Sch. item 20) on 1.7.06: Government Gazette 29.6.06
p. 1315
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Children, Youth and Families (Consequential and Other
Amendments) Act 2006, No. 48/2006
Assent Date:
15.8.06
Commencement Date:
S. 42(Sch. item 14) on 23.4.07:
s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Corrections and Other Justice Legislation (Amendment) Act
2006, No. 49/2006
Assent Date:
15.8.06
Commencement Date:
S. 22 on 16.8.06: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Public Sector Acts (Further Workplace Protection and
Other Matters) Act 2006, No. 80/2006
Assent Date:
10.10.06
Commencement Date:
S. 26(Sch. item 39) on 11.10.06:
s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Statute Law Revision Act 2007 ,
No. 28/2007
Assent Date:
26.6.07
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 26) on 27.6.07: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms Amendment Act 2007, No.
50/2007
Assent Date:
17.10.07
Commencement Date:
Ss 3(1)(a)(c) –(g)(2), 4 –8 , 12 , 14 –19 ,
25 –27 , 30 , 32–35, 40–53, 55 on
30.6.08: Government Gazette 26.6.08 p. 1388; ss 3(1)(b)(3) , 9 –11 , 13 ,
20 –24 , 28 , 29 , 31 , 36 –39 , 54 , 56 on 1.9.08: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Relationships Act 2008 , No. 12/2008
Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2008,
No. 21/2008
Police Integrity Act 2008, No.
34/2008
Assent Date:
1.7.08
Commencement Date:
S. 143(Sch. 2 item 7) on 5.12.08: Special Gazette
(No. 340) 4.12.08 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Family Violence Protection Act , No.
52/2008
Assent Date:
23.9.08
Commencement Date:
Ss 245–249 on 8.12.08: Special Gazette (No. 339)
4.12.08 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Stalking Intervention Orders Act 2008, No. 68/2008
(as amended by No. 20/2011)
Assent Date:
18.11.08
Commencement Date:
Ss 70 –76 on 8.12.08: Special Gazette (No. 339)
4.12.08 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2009, No.
25/2009
Assent Date:
17.6.09
Commencement Date:
Ss 8 –11 on 3.9.09: Government Gazette 3.9.09
p. 2331
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Justice Legislation Further Amendment Act 2009, No.
55/2009
Assent Date:
22.9.09
Commencement Date:
Ss 15 –21 on 30.10.09: Government Gazette 29.10.09
p. 2729
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Statute Law Amendment (Evidence Consequential Provisions)
Act 2009, No. 69/2009
Assent Date:
24.11.09
Commencement Date:
S. 54(Sch. Pt 2 item 21) on 1.1.10:
s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Statute Law Amendment (National Health Practitioner
Regulation) Act 2010, No. 13/2010
Assent Date:
30.3.10
Commencement Date:
S. 51(Sch. item 23) on 1.7.10:
s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms and Other Acts Amendment Act 2010,
No. 52/2010
Assent Date:
7.9.10
Commencement Date:
Ss 3(1)(b)(d) , 4 , 17 , 19 , 21 , 23 on 1.11.10: Government
Gazette 28.10.10 p. 2583; ss 3(1)(a)(c)(2) ,
5 –16 , 18 , 20 , 22 , 24 , 25 on 1.7.11: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Personal Safety Intervention Orders Act 2010 ,
No. 53/2010
Assent Date:
7.9.10
Commencement Date:
S. 221(Sch. item 5) on 5.9.11: Special Gazette
(No. 271) 23.8.11 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Education and Training Reform Amendment (School Safety)
Act 2011, No. 11/2011
Assent Date:
10.5.11
Commencement Date:
S. 7 on 1.1.12: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Statute Law Revision Act 2011 , No.
29/2011
Assent Date:
21.6.11
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. 1 item 38) on 22.6.11: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Sentencing Amendment (Community Correction Reform) Act
2011, No. 65/2011 (as amended by No. 43/2012)
Assent Date:
22.11.11
Commencement Date:
S. 107(Sch. item 6) on 16.1.12: Special Gazette
(No. 423) 21.12.11 p. 3
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Control of Weapons and Firearms Acts Amendment Act 2012,
No. 12/2012
Assent Date:
20.3.12
Commencement Date:
Ss 7 –12 on 16.5.12: Special Gazette (No. 157) 15.5.12
p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Associations Incorporation Reform Act 2012 ,
No. 20/2012
Assent Date:
1.5.12
Commencement Date:
S. 226(Sch. 5 item 13) on 26.11.12: Special Gazette (No.
384) 20.11.12 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Statute Law Revision Act 2012 , No.
43/2012
Assent Date:
27.6.12
Commencement Date:
S. 3(Sch. item 18) on 28.6.12: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Integrity and Accountability Legislation Amendment Act
2012, No. 82/2012
Assent Date:
18.12.12
Commencement Date:
Ss 94 –99 , 288 on 10.2.13: Special Gazette
(No. 32) 6.2.13 p. 2; s. 309 on 11.2.13: s. 2(5)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Legal Profession Uniform Law Application Act 2014 , No.
17/2014
Assent Date:
25.3.14
Commencement Date:
S. 160(Sch. 2 item 42) on 1.7.15: Special Gazette (No. 151)
16.6.15 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Mental Health Act 2014 ,
No. 26/2014
Assent Date:
8.4.14
Commencement Date:
S. 455(Sch. item 10) on 1.7.14: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Victoria Police Amendment (Consequential and Other
Matters) Act 2014, No. 37/2014
Assent Date:
3.6.14
Commencement Date:
S. 10(Sch. item 63) on 1.7.14: Special Gazette
(No. 200) 24.6.14 p. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Criminal Organisations Control and Other Acts Amendment
Act 2014, No. 55/2014
Assent Date:
26.8.14
Commencement Date:
Ss 87 –102 on 1.10.14: Special Gazette (No. 330)
23.9.14 p. 1; s. 147 on 31.10.14: Special Gazette (No. 330)
23.9.14 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Inquiries Act 2014 , No. 67/2014
Assent Date:
23.9.14
Commencement Date:
S. 147(Sch. 2 item 17) on 15.10.14: Special Gazette (No.
364) 14.10.14 p. 2
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Justice Legislation Amendment Act 2015, No.
20/2015
Assent Date:
16.6.15
Commencement Date:
Ss 57 , 58 on 1.9.15: Special Gazette (No. 236) 25.8.15 p.
1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms Amendment (Trafficking and Other Measures) Act
2015, No. 44/2015
Assent Date:
22.9.15
Commencement Date:
Ss 3 –8 on 1.12.15: Special Gazette (No. 349) 18.11.15
p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
National Domestic Violence Order Scheme Act 2016, No.
53/2016
Assent Date:
18.10.16
Commencement Date:
Ss 96 –101 on 25.11.17: Special Gazette (No. 388)
15.11.17 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Victorian Fisheries Authority Act 2016 , No.
68/2016
Assent Date:
15.11.16
Commencement Date:
Ss 163 , 164 on 1.7.17: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Family Violence Protection Amendment (Information
Sharing) Act 2017, No. 23/2017
Assent Date:
14.6.17
Commencement Date:
S. 38 on 26.2.18: Special Gazette (No. 40) 6.2.18
p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms Amendment Act 2018, No.
2/2018
Assent Date:
13.2.18
Commencement Date:
Ss 4 –37 on 9.5.18: Special Gazette (No. 209) 8.5.18
p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Oaths and Affirmations Act 2018 , No.
6/2018
Assent Date:
27.2.18
Commencement Date:
S. 68(Sch. 2 item 53) on 1.3.19:
s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Serious Offenders Act 2018 , No.
27/2018
Assent Date:
26.6.18
Commencement Date:
S. 359 on 3.9.18: Special Gazette (No. 356) 31.7.18
p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters)
Act 2019, No. 3/2019
Assent Date:
13.3.19
Commencement Date:
Ss 39 , 42 , 44 , 46 on 5.6.19: Special Gazette (No. 215)
4.6.19 p. 1; ss 38 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 45 on 1.10.19: Special Gazette (No. 386)
24.9.19 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firefighters' Presumptive Rights Compensation and Fire
Services Legislation Amendment (Reform) Act 2019 ,
No. 20/2019
Assent Date:
2.7.19
Commencement Date:
S. 172 on 1.7.20: Special Gazette (No. 328) 30.6.20
p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Primary Industries Legislation Amendment Act 2019,
No. 40/2019
Assent Date:
6.11.19
Commencement Date:
S. 101 on 1.2.20: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Local Government Act 2020 ,
No. 9/2020
Assent Date:
24.3.20
Commencement Date:
S. 390(Sch. 1 item 41) on 6.4.20: Special Gazette
(No. 150) 24.3.20 p. 1
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Firearms and Other Acts Amendment Act 2021,
No. 44/2021
Assent Date:
26.10.21
Commencement Date:
Ss 8 –24 on 30.8.22: s. 2(3)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Act 2022 , No. 39/2022
Assent Date:
6.9.22
Commencement Date:
Ss 824, 825 on 1.9.23: s. 2(2)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
Justice Legislation Amendment
(Police and Other Matters) Act 2024, No. 2/2024
Assent Date:
20.2.24
Commencement Date:
Ss 9 −13 on 21.2.24: s. 2(1)
Current State:
This information relates only to the provision/s amending
the Firearms Act 1996
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
3 Explanatory details
No entries at date of publication.
