REFORM written authority - frequently asked questions

For Individual Firearm Licenses, there are two types of written authorities. A Written Authority for a specific property (property letter) is authorisation by a landholder to allow you to use your firearm on their property. 

A Written Authority from a club (club letter) is an authorisation by a club to support your competitive use of your firearm at licensed ranges.

The validity of all Written Authorities (property letter and club letters) will be extinguished at a time to be determined after proclamation.

A Written Authority (property letter) can be issued by any landholder with land of the type and in the circumstances that suit firearms of different categories for different purposes. These new authorities must be issued in the new approved manner and format.

If your licence is dependent upon having a Written Authority (property letter) to allow you to shoot on a property and you are unable to obtain a new valid Written Authority within the allowed transitional period, then your licence will no longer be valid and you will need to dispose of your firearms.

If you believe you won’t be able to obtain a new written authority, then consider the opportunity to take part in the Voluntary Buyback Scheme.

Alternatively, existing individual firearm licence holders with rec/hunt/shoot firearms could consider applying for an alternative licence type such as competition which will require joining a club and obtaining a Written Authority (club letter).

All properties will be assessed based on size, location, and the ongoing feral/vermin control requirements to determine the number of Written Authorities (property letters) that can be active at that property at any given time.

Written Authorities (property letters) form one key part of how some licence holders or applicants demonstrate their genuine reason for obtaining/retaining their firearm licence.

A Written Authority (property letter) must be issued in accordance with the legislation by an authorised person for the land described in the Written Authority.

The legislation will prohibit the sale or receipt of other remuneration in regard to provision of a Written Authority (property letter). It will be an offence for anyone to buy or sell Written Authorities.

Written Authorities (property letters) do not relate to the number of firearms you can own, rather, it establishes the purpose and place of their use.

Yes, there is no limit to the number of properties on which you can obtain a Written Authority (property letter) to shoot.

Yes. Written Authorities (property letters) will be required for any property on which you wish to shoot.

Primary Producers can use their firearms on other Primary Producers properties without the need of a written authority.

Yes. This self-issued Written Authority (property letter) will not count towards any limit on the number of authorities that can be issued for your property.

Written Authorities (property letter) do not determine the type or category of firearm that you can have. That is determined by your reason and need for the firearm which may then require a Written Authority from a property of a certain type, size, location etc.

All properties will be assessed based upon the legislated determinants of their suitability including:

• Size
• Location
• Proximity to buildings or infrastructure
• Nature of the shooting
• Capacity for different categories of firearms
• and other such matters as are relevant.

Yes, the issuer of the Written Authority (property letter) can provide it for specific purposes.

Landholders will be able to regulate shooting on their property as they can set parameters as to who, when, where, and what firearms are allowed on their property through the issuance of the Written Authorities.