Firearms Act Reform 2024

The Minister for Police Has Announced The Commencement of the Voluntary Firearms Buyback Scheme for WA Firearm Dealers.

This is open to WA Licensed Firearms Dealers commencing 07 November 2024 and will conclude 17 January 2025. Further information is available on the Information Sheet below.

In March 2022, the WA Government announced the commencement of the Firearms Legislation Reform, marking the most significant overhaul of firearms laws in recent history.

The Firearms Act 2024 was passed by Parliament on 19 June 2024, and was assented on 27 June 2024.

The new laws will impact both existing firearm licence holders and new firearm licence applicants.

New licence categories have been introduced and more stringent requirements will apply. 

Changes include but are not limited to:

Licence types

• Professional Shooters
• Primary Producers
• Collectors

Requirements

• Numerical Limits
• New Written Authorities (property/club letters)
• Mandatory Health Assessments
• Mandatory Training
• Landholders – Property Registration
• Australian Citizen and Residency and;
• Mandatory Disqualification Offences/Orders/Organisations (MDOs)

If these changes affect you and you cannot comply consider utilising the Firearm Amnesty now or lawfully disposed of your firearms through a licensed firearms dealer.

What happens next?

The WA Police Force has a dedicated transition team assigned to assist in transferring all existing licence holders to the new licence types. This team will make contact with you several months before the expiry of your licence and therefore there is no need to contact us prior to this date.

Further information can be obtained by reviewing the Information Sheets to assist with making informed decisions about your firearm ownership and the impact of the legislative changes.

• View the FAQs on the Firearms Licensing help centre page*.
• Please see the information sheets below on this page. 

*Please note: The list of FAQs and responses are not intended to be exhaustive.

Post proclamation and commence of the Firearms Act 2024, if you do not comply with the legislative requirements, and have not surrendered your firearms or lawfully disposed of them through a licensed firearms dealer, they will be seized.

Firearm Amnesty

The 2024 Voluntary Buyback Scheme has closed as of 31 August 2024.

Take advantage of the Firearm Amnesty, if you anticipate you will not meet the future legislative requirements.

Alternatively, lawfully dispose of your firearm(s) via a licensed Firearms Dealer

You will NOT receive any remuneration for firearms relinquished under the Amnesty.

Firearms can be surrendered at any Police Station across Western Australia. Please contact your local police station in advance to arrange surrender. 

Police Stations are open Monday to Friday between 8am and 4pm to assist, however some Regional WA Police Stations opening times may vary. Do not attend without prior arrangement.

Links to information sheets

• Australian Citizen Resident WA (PDF, 112KB)
• Collector Licence (PDF, 128KB)
• Firearm Storage (PDF, 80KB)
• Hunting Permissions (PDF, 80KB)
• Individual Competition (PDF, 80KB)
• Landholders Property Registration (PDF, 125KB)
• Licence Types (PDF, 101KB)
• Mandatory Disqualification (PDF, 100KB)
• Mandatory Health Assessments (PDF, 91KB)
• Mandatory Training (PDF, 78KB)
• Primary Producer (PDF, 123KB)
• Professional Shooters (PDF, 120KB)
• Voluntary Firearm Buyback Scheme 3.0 Dealers (196KB).
• Written Authority (PDF, 158KB)