Western Australia has introduced significant changes to its firearm laws with the Firearms Amendment Act 2024, which passed Parliament in June 2024 and came into effect in December 2024. These reforms impact both existing firearm licence holders and new applicants, bringing stricter regulations on firearm ownership, new classifications, and prohibitions on certain accessories.
While many provisions have already in force for some time, others — such as the repeal of the Firearms Regulations — commenced on 31 March 2025. With these changes, firearm owners must ensure compliance to avoid penalties, including firearm seizures.
The overarching aim of these reforms is to disarm serious offenders, enhance monitoring, and tighten the regulation of firearms in the state.
Voluntary Firearms Buyback Scheme
To encourage gun owners to surrender unwanted or illegal firearms, the WA government introduced a Voluntary Firearms Buyback Scheme, which ran until 31 August 2024. However, after great criticism and frustration from the public, the government have now announced they will extend the buyback scheme for rapid-release or push-button firearms to 14 April 2025.
In addition to the buyback scheme for rapid-release firearms, from 14 April 2025 to 14 January 2026, all other gun owners will have the opportunity to turn in their guns for financial compensation.
Key Changes Under the Firearms Amendment Act 2024
1) Expanded Definitions of Firearms
The definition of what is NOT classified as a firearm has been broadened. The following are now explicitly excluded from the Act’s definition of a firearm:
- Flares
- Rivet guns
- Surgical staple guns
- Line throwers
- Compressed air tools, such as airguns
- Edged weapons (now covered under the Weapons Act 1999)
- Children’s toy guns that clearly pose no risk of injury
This change clarifies what is legally considered a firearm and ensures that tools and harmless toys are not subject to the regulations.
2) Prohibition of Certain Firearms and Accessories
New restrictions under Schedule 2A of the Firearms Regulations prohibit:
- Rapid-release firearms and certain types of munitions
- Firearm accessories, including bump stocks
- Sound suppressors (silencers)
These measures aim to limit firearm modifications that could increase their lethality.
3) New Fitness Standards for Firearm Licence Holders
The amendments introduce stricter physical and mental health standards for individuals applying for or renewing firearm licences. A person must now meet specific health criteria to be deemed a “fit and proper person” to hold a firearm licence.
This change is intended to reduce firearm-related risks by ensuring that only mentally and physically capable individuals can legally own and operate firearms.
4) Disqualifying Orders
Where a person has been served with a Violence restraining order, Family Violence Restraining Order, Misconduct Restraining Order including orders of a similar nature from other jurisdictions, they are automatically subject to a Firearms Disqualification Order.
Similarly, a person issued with a control order under the Community Protection (Offender Reporting) Act, or an interim or a full control order under the Criminal Organisations Act is automatically subject to a disqualification Order.
If you are served with a disqualification order due to the above, you will be disqualified from holding a gun licence, and applying for a new one for the length of the order plus 5 years. For example, if you were served a violence restraining order that lasts 2 years, you would be disqualified for a total of 7 years.
5) Disqualifying Offences
The said Firearms legislation reforms introduced provisions which may disqualify a person from holding a firearms licence where they commit a serious offence. A serious offence is one which is subject to a minimum prison sentence of 5 years or more.
Examples of serious offences include stealing, sex and drug offences, aggravated assaults, fraud and burglary. It also extends to like-offences in other Australian states and territories.
If you are charged with a serious offence, you will receive an interim disqualification and your firearms licence will be suspended and all firearms seized until after the matter is resolved.
The disqualifying period for serious offences is the maximum imprisonment penalty for the offence, plus any term of imprisonment served by the offender. For example, assault has a maximum imprisonment penalty of 5 years. If you were convicted of assault in 2025 and were not sentenced to a term of imprisonment, you would be disqualified from holding or applying for a firearms licence until 2030.
Need Legal Advice?
If you are affected by the WA Firearms Amendment Act 2024 and require legal assistance, Kate King Legal can help.
We are a boutique firm of specialist criminal defence lawyers based in Perth CBD, with experience in firearm offences.
If you need legal guidance on firearm regulations, criminal charges, or any related matters, call us on (08) 9467 3333 or click here to submit an online enquiry
Lyndsay Cox is Practice Manager at Kate King Legal, a specialist criminal defence firm. With extensive experience across complex criminal matters, Lyndsay brings deep expertise in the criminal justice system and what it takes to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
