2004

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR

THE AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

FIREARMS (EXTENSION OF AMNESTY) AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2004 (No 1)

Subordinate Law No SL2004-3

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Circulated by the authority of

Bill Wood MLA
Minister for Police and Emergency Services

Firearms (Extension of Amnesty) Amendment Regulations 2004 (No 1)

Subordinate Law No SL2004-3

Explanatory Statement

Outline

The Firearms Act 1996, as amended by the Firearms (Prohibited Pistols) Amendment Act 2003 which commenced on 1 July 2003, provides for an amnesty for the possession of prohibited pistols, and for the payment of compensation for the surrender of prohibited pistols and associated parts and accessories, for the period 
1 July 2003 to 31 December 2003 inclusive.  This is the period of the ACT Handgun Buyback, consistent with the terms of the Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Handgun Buyback.

The Australian Federal Police Firearms Registry, which was the collection centre for surrendered prohibited handguns during the Buyback, was closed over the Christmas and New Year period, from 24 December 2003 to 5 January 2004.  As a consequence, persons who may have wished to surrender their prohibited handguns by 
31 December 2003 were not able to do so.

The Firearms (Extension of Amnesty) Amendment Regulations 2004 extend the amnesty, and therefore the Buyback, for the period from 5 January 2004 to 12 noon on 10 January 2004.

Formal clauses

Clauses 1, 2 and 3 are formal clauses which, respectively:

•	state the name of the amending Regulations;
•	provide for the commencement of the amending Regulations on the day after their notification day; and
•	explain that the Regulations amend the Firearms (Compensation) 
Regulations 2003

Clause 4 provides for the additional amnesty period of 5 January 2004 to 12 noon on 10 January 2004.  The amnesty will apply to the possession of prohibited pistols by licensed target shooters and the payment of compensation for surrendered prohibited pistols and associated parts and accessories.