Tasmania is proposing tougher firearms laws that would send gun thieves to jail, with the state government releasing the Firearms Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2026 for public consultation. The proposed overhaul would affect criminal penalties, police inspection powers, firearm storage reporting, licence eligibility and the classification of some firearms.
The biggest change is a three-month minimum mandatory jail sentence for anyone who steals a firearm or is caught in possession of a stolen one. The government says the measure is aimed at stopping stolen guns from moving into criminal networks, where they can create risks far beyond the original theft.
Mandatory jail for stolen firearms
Under the bill, firearm theft would be treated as a serious public safety offence rather than ordinary property crime. A stolen gun can be used in violence, intimidation, organised crime or other offences, which is why the proposal places a mandatory prison term at the centre of the reform package.
The bill would also increase the maximum penalty for possessing a stolen firearm from 100 penalty units to 300 penalty units. A person convicted of that offence could also face up to five years in prison.
Important: These changes are not yet law. The bill is still at the consultation stage, with submissions open until August 7, 2026.
Police powers would be expanded
The proposed legislation would allow police to inspect any firearm on request, not only firearms held by the registered owner. That change is designed to strengthen compliance checks and help authorities confirm where firearms are located and whether they are being handled lawfully.
For licensed firearm owners, this means record keeping, storage arrangements and reporting obligations would become more important if the bill passes.
National Firearms Register preparation
A large part of the bill is linked to Australia’s incoming National Firearms Register, which is expected to let police across the country share firearm and licence information in near real time.
The register was agreed to by governments in 2023 after the December 2022 Wieambilla murders in Queensland. It is expected to begin operating by mid-2028.
Official consultation details are available through the Tasmania Police public consultations page.
New address and storage rules
Gun owners would need to notify police at least 24 hours before changing address or storing a firearm at a different location. That is a major tightening from the current rule, which allows owners 14 days to report the change.
The aim is to make firearm location records more accurate before the national register comes online. For owners, it would mean planning storage changes in advance rather than reporting them after the fact.
Category C firearm changes
The bill would reclassify certain straight-pull and lever-release rifles and shotguns into the more restrictive Category C licence class. Category C licences are generally held by primary producers and limited occupational users.
Because reclassification can affect whether someone is still eligible to hold a firearm, Tasmania’s own buyback scheme is offering 1.5 times market value for affected guns.
Citizenship requirement for licences
The proposed reforms would make Australian citizenship the default requirement for a firearms licence in Tasmania. Exemptions would remain for some New Zealand citizens in defined roles, including farming.
Main changes proposed in the bill:
- Three-month mandatory jail term for stealing or possessing a stolen firearm.
- Penalty for possessing a stolen firearm increased to 300 penalty units.
- Possible prison term of up to five years for possessing a stolen gun.
- Police allowed to inspect any firearm on request.
- Owners required to notify police 24 hours before address or storage changes.
- Some straight-pull and lever-release firearms moved to Category C.
- Australian citizenship made the default licence requirement.
- Buyback support offered at 1.5 times market value for reclassified firearms.
No cap on firearm ownership
The bill does not include a cap on how many firearms one person can own, despite Police Commissioner Donna Adams urging the government to consider ownership limits.
Police Minister Felix Ellis defended the decision, arguing that the central issue is not simply the number of firearms, but whether they are held by responsible owners or dangerous offenders.
Labor MP and shadow police minister Jen Butler criticised the absence of a cap, saying too many guns remain in the community while shootings and firearm thefts continue to raise concern. Labor says it supports practical reforms while respecting the needs of primary producers, sports shooters and recreational hunters.
Read More
National buyback uncertainty
The Tasmanian debate comes as a separate Commonwealth-backed firearms buyback remains uncertain. The scheme was announced after the Bondi attack, but several states did not sign on before the deadline because of concerns over a proposed 50-50 funding split.
Tasmania, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria and the Northern Territory have not joined the Commonwealth plan. Only New South Wales and the ACT remain signed on, while Western Australia is running its own scheme.
What happens next
Public consultation on the Firearms Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2026 closes on August 7. The bill is expected to go before the Tasmanian Parliament during the spring session.
The next stage will show whether the government keeps the proposal in its current form or changes it after public feedback. Readers following broader Australian policy developments may also find our report on Australia’s Resident Return Visa fee changes useful for understanding other major government rule changes this year.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
