Australia has some of the strictest gun laws in the world, built around licensing, registration and tight limits on what guns can be owned. Self- defence is not accepted as a valid reason to own a firearm.
Core national framework
Australia’s modern gun laws are built on the 1996 National Firearms Agreement (NFA), introduced after the Port Arthur massacre, which bans civilian ownership of most automatic and semi‑automatic rifles and shotguns and requires strict controls on remaining firearms. The NFA is implemented through state and territory laws, so details vary by location, but the broad rules are similar nationwide.
Licensing and “genuine reason”
To own or use a gun, a person must hold a firearm licence and not be a “prohibited person” (for example, due to certain criminal or mental‑health histories). Applicants must be at least 18, complete safety training, pass background checks, and show a “genuine reason” such as hunting, target shooting, occupational use, or pest control; self‑defence is explicitly excluded.
Registration and categories
All firearms must be registered by serial number to a licensed owner, with records kept in state/territory systems and plans for a strengthened national register being advanced after recent attacks. Guns are divided into categories (A, B, C, D, H etc.), with the most restrictive categories covering semi‑automatic and higher‑capacity firearms that are generally banned or only allowed in very narrow professional circumstances.
Purchase, storage and limits
There is typically a 28‑day “cooling‑off” period for first‑time licence or permit approvals, and purchases require permits and checks, though some states have relaxed waiting periods for existing licence‑holders. Owners must meet strict storage rules, such as keeping firearms unloaded and locked in approved safes with ammunition stored separately, and some jurisdictions are moving to cap the number and type of firearms an individual may own.
Recent and proposed tightening
Several reviews have found that some states have drifted away from full NFA compliance, leading to periodic reforms to re‑tighten laws, such as Western Australia’s 2024–2025 caps and bans on certain firearm types and magazine sizes. After the 2025 Bondi terror attack, federal and state leaders agreed in principle to further reforms, including restricting licences to Australian citizens, strengthening the national firearms register, and using more intelligence in licensing decisions.
