Firearms and Weapons Control Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (27 of 2016) [NT] Assented

On 13 July 2016, the NT Government assented the Firearms and Weapons Control Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (Act No. 27 of 2016) (The Act). The Act delivers on a government commitment under the Framing the Future Blueprint objectives including, improving business productivity, build a safe, secure and resilient Northern Territory and strengthen government service delivery.

Purpose of the Act

According to the Minister's Second Reading Speech, the purpose of this Act is to amend the Firearms Act, Firearms Regulations, Weapons Control Act and Weapons Control Regulations to increase the duration for which firearms licences and prohibited weapons licences are issued, provide an exemption for law enforcement officers to possess ammunition without licence, provide exemption to law enforcement officers to allow for the colocation and storage of firearms and ammunition, and change the definition of an officer of Customs to reflect recent changes and allow for those into the future.

Purpose of the Amendments

According to the Explanatory Statement, the extension of firearm licences and prohibited weapon licences will see licence durations increase from one or three years to five years; or from five years to 10 years. This will reduce the number of times Territorians are required to undertake licence applications with a corresponding reduction in the processing of licences by the NT Police Force.

Providing exemptions for law enforcement officers for possession and colocation of ammunition with firearms provides clarity in the legislation.

Renaming of the Australian Customs Service that is the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection provides legislative coverage for that agency and its employees.

The Act has not yet been proclaimed to commence.

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Firearms and Weapons Control Legislation Amendment Act 2016 (27 of 2016) [NT] and Secondary Materials, as reproduced in TimeBase LawOne