- Published:
- Monday 25 May 2026 at 4:00 pm
The Allan Labor Government is introducing tough new firearm laws.
The laws will impose tougher penalties, make licensing stricter and give police more powers.
The majority of firearms owners do the right thing – these laws are all about weeding out the dangerous people that don’t.
The laws follow the Rapid Review into Victoria’s Firearm Laws conducted by former Victoria Police Chief Commissioner Ken Lay AO APM.
As part of its response to the review, the Government is accepting 15 recommendations and rejecting one.
Mr Lay’s review highlights where Victoria’s firearm laws can be stronger, and that’s exactly what we’ll deliver.
But the Victorian Government will not introduce caps on firearm ownership.
The vast majority of licensed firearm owners in Victoria are law-abiding – and these changes will not affect them.
We need to focus on criminals getting their hands on a single gun.
That’s why our new laws go after dangerous people who illegally hold, traffic and use firearms.
Imposing tougher penalties
Harsher penalties for people caught trafficking firearms will be introduced.
Firearms Prohibition Orders (FPOs) were first introduced in 2018, but they need updating.
They will be strengthened by increasing the maximum penalty for breaches to 15 years’ imprisonment.
Making licensing stricter
We will apply an Australian citizenship requirement for Victorian firearms licenses.
Licenses will be restricted to citizens, NZ permanent residents, and non-citizens who need a firearm for work.
This ensures that the background information supplied from other jurisdictions as part of the licensing process, such as criminal record checks, is as reliable and accurate as possible.
In addition, to hold a firearms licence in Victoria, you will need to hold and maintain a clear background check through the Commonwealth’s AusCheck scheme.
More police powers
The Chief Commissioner of Police will get expanded powers to temporarily reclassify all firearms.
This will allow Victoria to respond faster to new technology and emerging threats like 3D printed guns.
The Firearm Prohibition Order scheme will also be made permanent, by repealing the sunset provisions.
Continuing to work at a national level
These reforms will support the renegotiation of the National Firearms Agreement, ensuring national standards remain strong, contemporary, and evidence based.
The Government will continue to work closely with the Federal Government to implement the National Firearms Register.
That makes it easier to share information and spot red flags regardless of where someone lives.
We invested $38.4 million to upgrade firearms licensing systems in the Budget – so Victoria is ready for the national firearms register and dangerous weapons stay out of the wrong hands.
Quotes attributable to Premier Jacinta Allan
“We need to focus on the wrong people getting their hands on a single gun.”
“The majority of firearms owners do the right thing – we’re weeding out the dangerous people that don’t.”
Quotes attributable to Minister for Police Anthony Carbines
“We’ll toughen our firearms laws and continue to keep Victorians safe.”
“These are sensible changes and will make it harder for criminals to deal out illicit guns in the black market.”