10A General restrictions on grant of firearms dealer licence,
firearms corporate licence, firearms museum licence and
firearms club licence ...................................................................... 20
11 Genuine reason for licence ............................................................ 20
12 Form of licence .............................................................................. 21
13 General conditions of licence......................................................... 21
14 Period of licence ............................................................................ 22
Division 3 Shooter's licence
15 Shooter's licence ........................................................................... 23
Firearms Act 1997 ii
15A Category H sports shooter's licence .............................................. 23
15B Procedure for obtaining licence ..................................................... 23
15C Conditions of licence ..................................................................... 24
16 Firearms dealer licence ................................................................. 24
16A Information about close associates of firearms dealers ................. 24
16B Possession of firearms held under firearms dealer licence ........... 26
17 Security measures required by dealer ........................................... 26
18 Records and returns to be kept by dealers .................................... 27
19 Production of firearms ................................................................... 28
21 Interstate transactions between dealers ........................................ 28
22 Firearms armourer licence ............................................................. 28
22A Records to be kept by firearms armourer ...................................... 29
23 Production of firearms and records................................................ 29
24 Firearms collector licence .............................................................. 30
25 Use of firearm under firearms collector licence.............................. 30
Division 6A Antique firearms collector licence
25A Antique firearms collector licence .................................................. 31
26 Firearms corporate licence ............................................................ 31
Division 9 Firearms club junior licence
28 Firearms club junior licence ........................................................... 32
29 Firearms museum licence.............................................................. 32
29A Possession of firearms held under firearms museum licence ........ 32
Division 11 Firearms heirloom licence
30 Firearms heirloom licence.............................................................. 33
Firearms Act 1997 iii
30A Firearms club licence ..................................................................... 33
30B Records to be kept by firearms clubs ............................................ 33
30C Firearms instructor licence............................................................. 34
Division 13A Firearms employee licence
30CA Firearms employee licence ............................................................ 35
Subdivision 1 Paintball operator licences
30D Effect of licence ............................................................................. 35
30E Effect of licence ............................................................................. 35
30F Licence expires if holder ceases to be employee .......................... 36
30G Disclosure of information by Commissioner to approved
paintball operator ........................................................................... 36
31 Grant of permits ............................................................................. 36
32 Application for permit ..................................................................... 38
33 General restrictions on granting permits ........................................ 39
33A Possession and use of firearms by international competitors ........ 41
34 General provisions relating to permits ........................................... 41
35 Permits to purchase or acquire firearms ........................................ 42
35A Permits for category H sports shooters ......................................... 43
35B Limits on firearm ownership under category H sports shooter's
licence ........................................................................................... 44
35C Permits under firearms collector licence ........................................ 45
35D Restriction on granting paintball operator permit ........................... 45
36 Registration of firearms ................................................................. 46
37 Duration of registration .................................................................. 46
Part 6 Surrender or revocation of licences,
permits and certificates of registration
38 Suspension of licence, permit or registration ................................. 47
39 Suspension on making of interim domestic violence order ............ 48
Firearms Act 1997 iv
40 Revocation of licence, permit or registration .................................. 48
40A Revocation on basis of criminal intelligence .................................. 51
40B Seizure of firearms on revocation .................................................. 51
41 Surrender by holder ....................................................................... 52
42 Suspension by police officer or Commissioner .............................. 52
43 Refusal or revocation by Commissioner ........................................ 53
44 Disposal of firearms ....................................................................... 53
45 Delivery of firearms to Commissioner for safekeeping .................. 54
46 Storage and safe keeping requirements ........................................ 54
47 Seizure of firearms if storage requirements not met ...................... 55
Part 8 Premises used by firearms clubs, for
shooting activities and paintball ranges
48 Premises used by firearms clubs and for shooting activities ......... 55
49 Approval of premises used by firearms clubs and for shooting
activities ......................................................................................... 56
49A Approval of premises for use as paintball range ............................ 56
49B Definitions ...................................................................................... 57
49C Meaning of firearm related item ..................................................... 58
49D Meaning of prohibited premises..................................................... 58
49E Firearm prohibition order ............................................................... 59
49F Considerations in making firearm prohibition order ....................... 59
49G Form and content of order ............................................................. 59
49H Duration of order............................................................................ 60
49J Service of order ............................................................................. 60
49K Cancellation or suspension of licences, permits and
certificates ..................................................................................... 61
49L Review by NTCAT – firearm prohibition orders ............................. 62
49M Further right to apply for review by NTCAT ................................... 63
49N Confidentiality of classified information .......................................... 63
Firearms Act 1997 v
Division 4 Offences in relation to firearm prohibition
orders
49P Offence to contravene firearm prohibition order ............................ 64
49Q Offence to engage in conduct resulting in another person
contravening firearm prohibition order ........................................... 65
49R Offence to be at prohibited premises ............................................. 65
49S Offence to reside at premises where there are firearms or
firearm related items ...................................................................... 65
49T Offence to be in company of person using firearm or firearm
related item .................................................................................... 66
49U Search of person to whom firearm prohibition order relates
without warrant or consent............................................................. 66
49V Search of associate without warrant or consent ............................ 67
49W Search of premises, vehicles, aircraft or vessels without
warrant or consent ......................................................................... 68
49X Search of person at premises, vehicles, aircraft or vessels
without warrant or consent............................................................. 70
49Y Requirement to give name and address ........................................ 71
49Z Dealing with firearms or firearm related items surrendered or
seized under this Part .................................................................... 71
49ZA Sale, disposal or return of firearms or firearm related items
surrendered or seized under this Part ........................................... 72
Division 6 Review of operation of Part
49ZB Review of operation of Part ........................................................... 73
50 Review by NTCAT – general ......................................................... 73
51 Constitution of NTCAT for review proceedings .............................. 74
55 Firearms Advisory Council ............................................................. 74
56 Functions and powers of Council................................................... 75
57 Meetings of Council ....................................................................... 75
58 Possession or use of firearms ....................................................... 76
58A Obligation of supervisor ................................................................. 78
58B Obligation of firearms club ............................................................. 78
Firearms Act 1997 vi
Division 2 Offences relating to registration
59 Firearms to be registered............................................................... 79
60 Alteration of certificate of registration ............................................ 79
60A Conspiring to commit and aiding etc. commission of offence
outside Territory............................................................................. 79
60B Definition........................................................................................ 80
60C Prohibition of carrying on business of paintball operator
without authority ............................................................................ 80
60D Information about close associates, representatives and
employees ..................................................................................... 80
60E Records and returns ...................................................................... 81
60F Prohibition on employing certain persons ...................................... 82
60G Production of firearms ................................................................... 82
60H Possession and use of paintball firearm only at approved
paintball range ............................................................................... 82
60J Restrictions on children playing paintball ....................................... 83
60K Paintball player must sign declaration and give identification ........ 83
60L Certain persons prohibited from playing paintball .......................... 84
61 Manufacture of firearms ................................................................. 84
61A Repair or modification of firearms .................................................. 85
62 Purchase of firearms ..................................................................... 85
63 Sale of firearms ............................................................................. 86
63A Trafficking in firearms .................................................................... 88
63B Advertising firearm for sale ............................................................ 89
64 Use of mail for sending firearms .................................................... 89
65 Use of mail for sending firearms outside the Territory ................... 90
66 Transporting firearms .................................................................... 91
67 Disposal of firearms by unauthorised holders ................................ 92
68 Altering firearms ............................................................................ 92
68A Sale and purchase of ammunition ................................................. 92
69 Possession of ammunition ............................................................. 93
70 Pawning of firearms prohibited ...................................................... 93
71 Misuse of licences and permits...................................................... 93
73 Hiring or leasing firearms ............................................................... 94
74 Alteration of identification marks .................................................... 94
75 Toy guns ........................................................................................ 95
76 Unsafe firearms ............................................................................. 95
77 Silencers and machine-guns ......................................................... 95
78 Carrying firearms in public places.................................................. 96
Firearms Act 1997 vii
79 Discharge of firearms on certain land ............................................ 97
80 Possession of firearms on certain land .......................................... 97
81 Restriction on possession and use of firearms on certain
vacant Crown land ......................................................................... 98
82 Discharge of firearms on roads...................................................... 98
83 Prohibited use of firearms .............................................................. 99
84 Discharge of firearm causing danger ............................................. 99
85 Breach of conditions ...................................................................... 99
86 Persons under influence of alcohol or drugs.................................. 99
87 Delivery of firearms to certain persons .......................................... 99
88 Delivery of firearms to unlicensed persons .................................. 100
89 False or misleading statements ................................................... 100
90 Matters to be notified ................................................................... 100
91 Requirements and directions to be complied with ....................... 101
91A Notice of change of representative of certain licence and
permit holders .............................................................................. 101
92 Temporary recognition of interstate licences for shooting
competition .................................................................................. 102
93 Interstate residents moving to the Territory ................................. 102
93A Revocation and disqualification ................................................... 103
93B Disqualification if aggravating circumstance ................................ 103
93C No grant of licence or permit........................................................ 104
93D Court may order forfeiture............................................................ 104
93E No effect on general power.......................................................... 104
93F No review of certain decisions by Commissioner ........................ 105
94 Commissioner may require firearm to be lodged ......................... 105
95 Police may request names and addresses .................................. 105
96 Police may require production of licences and permits................ 106
96A Police may require production of firearm ..................................... 106
97 Searches in emergencies ............................................................ 107
98 Seizure ........................................................................................ 108
98A Seizure etc. of firearm includes ammunition ................................ 108
99 Retention of certain seized firearms ............................................ 109
99A Storage of certain firearms .......................................................... 110
100 Protection from liability ................................................................ 111
101 Report to be made in certain circumstances................................ 111
102 Disclosure of information by Commissioner in certain
circumstances.............................................................................. 112
Firearms Act 1997 viii
103 Duplicate certificates and licences............................................... 113
104 Averments ................................................................................... 113
104A Evidence by certificate ................................................................. 114
105 Evidentiary – meaning of possession of a firearm etc. ................ 114
106 Service of notices and documents ............................................... 114
106A Conduct of representatives .......................................................... 115
106B Criminal liability of executive officer of body corporate ................ 116
107 Criminal liability of executive officer of body corporate –
deemed liability if body corporate commits offence ..................... 117
107A Offences by representatives of licence and permit holders ......... 118
108 Commencement of prosecutions ................................................. 118
109 Regulatory offences..................................................................... 119
110 Certain category H firearms to be produced to Commissioner .... 119
110A Voluntary surrender of category H firearms ................................. 120
111 Regulations.................................................................................. 120
112 Review of Act............................................................................... 121
Division 1 Firearms Amendment Act 2003
113 Transitional .................................................................................. 121
Division 2 Statute Law Amendment (Directors' Liability)
Act 2015
114 Offences – before and after commencement............................... 121
Division 3 Transitional matters for Statute Law
Amendment (NTCAT Conferral of Jurisdiction)
Act 2023
115 Definitions .................................................................................... 122
116 Review of decisions and actions before commencement ............ 122
117 Pending proceeding before former Tribunal ................................ 123
118 Appeals against decisions of former Tribunal not instituted
before commencement ................................................................ 124
119 Appeals against decisions of former Tribunal not determined
before commencement ................................................................ 124
120 Remittal of matters to NTCAT on appeals determined after
commencement ........................................................................... 124
Division 4 Attorney-General and Police Legislation
Amendment Act 2025
121 Application of amendments to section 35 .................................... 125
Firearms Act 1997 ix
As in force at 6 December 2025
FIREARMS ACT 1997
An Act to provide for the regulation, control and registration of firearms,
and for related purposes
Section 10A - Firearms Act 1997 - General restrictions on grant of firearms dealer licence, | Zoe