July 9, 2021
The Federal Government has partnered with Crime Stoppers Australia to launch a permanent national firearms amnesty.
Assistant Minister for Customs Jason Wood said the amnesty, which began this week, allows anyone in Australia to hand in unregistered or unwanted firearms that could otherwise fall into the wrong hands.
“Unregistered firearms are a threat to our community. They are difficult to trace and can fall into the hands of criminals to commit terrible crimes while avoiding police detection,” Assistant Minister Wood said.
“An unwanted firearm can also be deadly. If not properly stored, there is always a risk that it could harm you or your loved ones.”
People who have an unregistered firearm or firearm-related item will be able to surrender it to a police station anonymously and without penalty, for registration, sale or destruction.
Licensed participating firearms dealers can also receive surrendered firearms in Queensland.
“If you have an unregistered firearm and you want to keep it, hand it in and see if you can register it. If you don’t want to keep your firearm, hand it in. Your community will thank you,” Assistant Minister Wood said.
If a person does not surrender an unregistered firearm and is found in possession of it, they may face criminal penalties, including imprisonment.
To support the commencement of the amnesty, Crime Stoppers has launched a National Illicit Firearms Campaign.
“As the nation’s most trusted information receiving service about unresolved crime and suspicious activity, Crime Stoppers is pleased to partner with the Federal Government through the Department of Home Affairs on this important community safety initiative,” Crime Stoppers Australia chair Diana Forrester said.
The previous national firearms amnesty, which was held over just three months in 2017, was incredibly successful and resulted in over 57,000 firearms being handed in across Australia.
“I want to thank my State and territory counterparts for being supportive of a permanent national firearms amnesty and making important arrangements for the safe surrender of firearms,” Assistant Minister Wood said.
Further information, including the process to surrender a firearm in each State or Territory, is available online
