When is this licence required?
A shotfiring licence is required to:
- Blast rock or similar solid material.
- Damage or destroy anything on or under land or water.
Licence holders can:
- Purchase, store (limited quantities), possess, and transport (limited to Category 2 quantities) explosives.
- Manufacture ammonium nitrate/fuel oil (ANFO) at the place where it will be used, without holding an explosives manufacturing licence.
The shotfiring licence does not allow the holder to use or possess fireworks, theatrical or special pyrotechnics.
When is this licence not required?
You do not need a licence if you hold a shotfiring licence from another Australian state or territory. Interstate licences are recognised under Western Australian regulations.
For further information on interstate shotfiring licence, refer to the Mutual Recognition section below.
Who can apply?
Applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Have applied for or hold a Western Australian dangerous goods security card or a recognised security clearance.
- Pass a medical assessment against the standards in "Assessing Fitness to Drive – Medical Standards for Commercial and Private Vehicle Drivers 2022".
- Pass a training course with an approved training provider.
- Pass the relevant offence requirements.
Required information
Applications for a shotfiring licence must be accompanied by specific information. Before completing your application ensure you have high quality colour images of the following documents.
If you have recently submitted an application for a different licence type and items provided with that application are still valid, they are prepopulated by SRS for subsequent applications. This may mean you do not have to obtain a new medical certificate etc.
Applications must include (document must be no older than 6 months unless otherwise specified):
- Competency Training: Statement of Attainment from the training course
- Medical Certificate: Medical certificate assessed against the relevant standards
- Photo: Digital photo (passport quality; JPEG format; a photo taken on a smartphone is acceptable)
- Relevant Offence: Documents detailing any conviction and/or charge pending relating to a relevant offence (from the previous 5 years)
Failure to provide the required documentation will delay processing of applications. Most applications are dealt with within approximately 20 business days.
Application fees
The licence fee payable covers the 5-year period of the licence.
MasterCard and Visa are accepted forms of payment and the fee is payable online through the departmental submissions portal.
Go to Dangerous goods fees and charges for more information on licence fees.
Amending the licence and updating personal details
To amend your licence, or update your personal details, or provide the department with information relevant to your licence, log on to Safety Regulations System SRS. There is no fee required.
Complying with a licence condition
If you are granted a licence subject to a condition requiring a review, a notification is sent six weeks prior to the review due date. To comply with the condition, you must provide the documentation required by the review due date.
If you do not comply with the condition, you will be deemed unfit to perform the licensed activities on the grounds of your non-compliance with the condition, and action may be taken to suspend your licence.
Applications can only be lodged online.
Lodging the application
The completed and signed application form must be accompanied by:
- all supporting documents
- the fee, payable at lodgement
- this can be paid by credit card
- application to be lodged online
If you have an existing SRS ex account number (username), Log on to SRS
Enter your ex-account number and password and follow online instructions to complete your application.
If you are unsure if you have previously registered as a user with SRS and may already have an existing ex account number, please call 1300 489 099 to confirm in order to avoid the creation of an additional profile.
Having more than one ex account number can cause issues with your access to the Safety Regulation System and delays in processing your application.
If you are a new user, go to SRS new user
Register for an ex-account number (this will be your username).
Mutual recognition
Show moreMutual recognition
Holders of dangerous goods driver licences issued in other States and Territories of Australia are deemed to be so licensed in Western Australia (WA). There is no requirement to apply for mutual recognition of your interstate licence.
However, you are not prevented from applying for mutual recognition if you wish to obtain a WA licence.
This does not apply for holders of New Zealand shotfirer licences who must apply for mutual recognition of their licences.
For information on mutual recognition refer to Applying for mutual recognition.
Interstate security clearance
Show moreThe table below details interstate legislation where a licence or permit issued under that legislation may be recognised as a security clearance in WA.
| State or Territory | Legislation |
| New South Wales | Explosives Regulations 2013 |
| Queensland | Explosives Act 1999 |
| South Australia | Explosives (Security Sensitive Substances) Regulations 2006 |
| Tasmania | Security-Sensitive Dangerous Substances Act 2005 |
| Victoria | Dangerous Goods (Explosives) Regulations 2011 |
| Northern Territory | None applicable |
| Australian Capital Territory | Dangerous Substances (Explosives) Regulations 2004 Dangerous Substances (General) Regulation 2004 |
Public registers
Show moreThe licensing regulations create public registers which require information about licence holders and licences to be publicly available. The actual information published in each licence register depends on the licence type.
Typically the register includes:
- Licence number
- Licence holder
- Conditions on licence (if any)
- Expiry date of licence
