NATIONAL FIREARMS REGISTER

NEWS

After a meeting of the National Cabinet in Canberra on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, it was announced that the states and territories had agreed to begin the process of implementing the National Firearms Register (NFR), with the federal government contributing $161.3 million towards its delivery, which includes $101.8 million to support state and territories to improve their existing registries.

The NFR will be designed as an integrated system that connects and draws information from existing Commonwealth, state, and territory firearms registries, portals, and management systems into one central register, replacing the existing Australian Firearms Information Network. It will continue to be managed by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission upon its planned implementation in mid-2028.

The NFR has come about in the wake of the events in Wieambillia, Queensland, in December 2022, when two police officers and a civilian were shot and killed in what the Queensland police deputy commissioner, Tracy Linford, described as a “religiously-motivated terrorist attack”.

Consequently, the Attorney General's Department has begun stakeholder engagement with industry and advocacy groups.

The NFR also provides further opportunities for existing registries to undertake data remediation, updates, reviews of current records, and redesigning and digitising of portals for dealers, importers, and firearm manufacturers.

As a standalone item, with the available details, the NFR appears to be a sound idea that will not impact the rank-and-file firearm owner. State-based legislation and regulation regarding firearms are the determining factors regarding the ability of hunters or others to own firearms. To date, the ADA has raised concerns regarding the appropriate use of information and its secure storage, and the Attorney-General's Department has noted these concerns and areas of interest.