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What is Considered a Genuine Reason?

Genuine reasons include:

1. Sport or target shooting

You must be a current member of an approved shooting organisation that conducts competitions or activities involving the type of firearms you wish to own. (Copy of current membership required with application.)

2. Recreational hunting or vermin control

You must produce a document signed by a land owner or occupier, the Director of the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Director-General of Lands or a forest officer as defined in the Forestry Act 1920 giving permission to shoot a specified type of animal or vermin on specified land. (Copy of document required with application.)

3. Primary production

You must be a primary producer or employed in the business of primary production and, in the case of an application for a category C licence, produce evidence that you intend to use the firearm solely to suppress vertebrate pest animals on the land or destroy animals to avoid their pain and suffering. (Statutory Declaration required with application.)

4. Animal population control

You must be a professional shooter whose principal or only occupation is the business of controlling vertebrate pest animals or be a person employed by or in, or authorised, by, a prescribed government agency that has functions relating to vertebrate pest animals. (Proof of profession required with application.)

5. Animal welfare

You must be one of the following:

(a) an officer of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals established in Tasmania; or

(b) a veterinary surgeon registered under the Veterinary Surgeons Act 1987; or

(c) an inspector under Animal Health Act 1995; or

(d) an inspector under Animal Welfare Act 1993; or

(e) an authorised person under Dog Control Act 2000 ;or

(f) an authorised officer under the Nature Conservation Act 2002; or

(g) a primary producer; or

(h) a prescribed a person.

(Copy of relevant documents required with application.)

Acts and Regulations information available on Tasmanian Legislation website

6. Business or employment as a firearms dealer, security agent or security guard

You must produce evidence that it is necessary to your business or employment to, possess or use a particular firearm. (Proof required with application.)

7. Firearms collection

You must be a bona fide firearms collector and a member of an approved society which collects firearms of the type specified in the category for which you are applying. (Copy of membership must accompany application.) You must show that your collection will be of significant commemorative, historical, thematic or investment value. Any firearms held in a collection manufactured after January 1, 1900 must be rendered temporarily incapable of being fired.

8. Show or exhibition

If your genuine reason for possessing a firearm is for show or exhibition, evidence must be produced relative to the application.

Protection of yourself, your family or your property is not considered a genuine reason.