Yes, you can legally own a gun in Australia, but the rules are strict and quite different from countries like the United States. Gun ownership is treated as a regulated privilege, not a constitutional right, and the details vary somewhat by state and territory.
Basic requirements
To own or use a firearm, you must have a firearms licence and each firearm must be individually registered to you by serial number. You must be over 18, pass background and character checks, complete safety training, and show you are not a prohibited person (for example, certain criminal or domestic‑violence records can disqualify you).
Genuine reason, not self‑defence
You must show a “genuine reason” to get a licence, such as hunting, sport/target shooting, occupational use (like farming), or some limited professional needs. Self‑defence is explicitly not accepted as a valid reason for firearm ownership in Australia.
What types of guns
Most ordinary licence holders can obtain bolt‑action rifles and shotguns for hunting or sport shooting, subject to category limits and storage rules. Semi‑automatic rifles and shotguns, and handguns, are heavily restricted and usually limited to specific categories like primary producers, certain professional uses, or members of approved shooting clubs under tighter controls.
Waiting periods and permits
There is typically a mandatory waiting period (around 28 days) for both getting a licence and for each “permit to acquire” a firearm, which allows time for background checks. Every new firearm purchase normally requires a separate permit that matches your licence category and confirms you still meet storage and genuine‑reason requirements.
State differences and recent tightening
All states follow the National Firearms Agreement framework, but each has its own legislation and extra rules, such as caps on how many guns a person can own or additional storage and club‑participation requirements. For example, Western Australia has recently introduced one of the strictest regimes with limits on firearm numbers and further buybacks, and national leaders have signalled interest in tighter controls on licence eligibility and the quantity and types of guns allowed.
