PREVIOUS COMPLIANCE PERIOD DEADLINE

As you know that the compliance period deadline for longarms, collecting and hunting attendances is March 31^st of each year.

SSAA NSW worked hard and was able to ensure that during COVID that attendances were not looked at by the NSW Registry. In effect this current reporting season that ends of 31^st March 2023 was the first post COVID time where licence holders were required to complete attendances.

CHANGE TO COMPLIANCE PERIOD – WIN FOR MEMBERS

SSAA NSW has advocated strongly that due to this being the first reporting season that must be done post COVID and for a better alignment of reporting generally, that the compliance date for attendances be moved to June 30^th.

This gives members an additional 3 months to complete mandatory attendances for those who are required to and ensure that there is a more streamlined approach to attendances so people can time their attendances beyond the traditional summer / new year period where there is always a lot of people at the range.

SSAA NSW State President Lance Miller, CEO Jai Rowell and Firearms Regulatory and Compliance Peter Szaak have just (20/03/23) left a face to face meeting with the NSW Firearms Registry where there was agreement for the change in the compliance date. The change is effective immediately, meaning the compliance period for SSAA NSW is now June 30^th, 2023, and no longer 31^st March 2023.

This gives everyone who is in the process of completing attendances to have an additional three months to complete those attendances. For those Members who have already completed their attendances, that is fantastic and please note the next compliance period will commence July 1^st 2023 and conclude June 30^th 2024. This doesn’t stop you attending a range and competing in shoots anyway.

SSAA NSW Pistol Clubs and non SSAA NSW Branches and Clubs will also be able to change their compliance period deadline.

This is a great outcome for Members, and we thank the NSW Firearms Registry for working collaboratively with SSAA NSW on this important matter. Also, a big thank you to Members who contacted SSAA NSW asking us to work towards a date change. By all working together, another success has been achieved.

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For the benefit of members, SSAA NSW sought written clarification from the NSW Firearms Registry for members to rely upon in the event they are provided with incorrect information. SSAA NSW has received the following response:

“Recreational hunters may conduct a sight alignment (iron sight/optical sight) and ammunition load development on NSW Shooting Range facilities, if the calibre of the firearms does not exceed the authorised ammunition on the range approval.”

The relevant section of the Firearms Regulations 2017 is Reg 33 which states that licences and permits extend to authorise sighting in, patterning and related activities. Please see the full wording of the regulation below:

FIREARMS REGULATION 2017 – REG 33

Licences and permits extend to authorise sighting in, patterning and related activities

33 Licences and permits extend to authorise sighting in, patterning and related activities

(1) The authority conferred by a licence or permit that authorises the use of a firearm by a person extends to include the use of a firearm by the person for the purposes of any of the following activities–

(a) sighting in the firearm (including sight alignment and including patterning of a shotgun),

(b) tuning of the firearm (including the adjusting or aligning of a shotgun),

(c) familiarisation with or testing of ammunition,

(d) practising on stationary targets (or moving targets in the case of a shotgun) but only for the purposes of an activity referred to in paragraphs (a)-(c).

(2) This clause authorises the use of a firearm on any land on which use of the firearm is not otherwise unlawful and is not limited to use at an approved shooting range.

(3) This clause does not authorise–

(a) the use of a firearm to participate in shooting activities conducted by a shooting club at an approved shooting range except the specific activities referred to in subclause (1), or

(b) the use of a shooting range otherwise than in accordance with the approval of the shooting range, including any conditions subject to which the approval was granted.

(4) For the removal of doubt, this clause does not prevent a person who is the holder of a licence or permit from using a firearm at an approved shooting range pursuant to the exemption conferred by section 6B of the Act.

It is important to note that each individual range chooses what they permit within their approvals. While hunters may conduct certain activities on a range, we remind our members that they must check with their local range as to what calibre or activity is permissible on that particular range.

Please note that if a police officer directs you in a manner that is contrary to the regulation (and the information supplied by the NSW Firearms Registry), you should follow their advice at the time of the direction, as a law-abiding firearms owner.

There are different ways to resolve the matter if the regulation has been applied incorrectly. You may have the direction reviewed at your local police station through the Local Area Commander or seek clarification from the NSW Firearms Registry. If there are any issues, please do not hesitate to contact SSAA NSW and we will advocate on your behalf.

SSAA NSW values all facets of shooting, including hunters and target shooters, and we will continue to advocate for all members.

Thank you,

Lance Miller – President, SSAA NSW
Jai Rowell – CEO/Executive Director, SSAA NSW

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