Federal government commits $160m to establish national firearms register

The Federal Government has announced the most significant step in Australia’s gun safety regime, since laws were tightened after the Port Arthur massacre.

The federal government has committed $160 million to establish a national firearms register, to track ownership and distribution in real-time.

The historic funding will be outlined in May’s Budget and delivered over four years to create a register as well as support a range of Commonwealth and State and Territory firearms reforms.

The system will provide police with near real-time information on firearms, parts, and owners and link information with other relevant police and government databases.

Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said the tragic events at Wieambilla in 2022 were a catalyst for progressing the reform, sparked from the response to 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

“Once established, police will know where firearms are, who owns them, and what other risks to the community and police may exist,” Dreyfus said in a statement.

“The Australian Government is committed to protecting the Australian community and ensuring Australia’s firearms laws remain amongst the most effective in the world.”

State and Territory leaders gave the go-ahead for a National Firearms Register last December, marking the most significant improvement in Australia’s firearms management systems in almost 30 years.

The initiative is led by the Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and will be developed with community and stakeholder consultation.