The Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia ACT has called on the ACT government to suspend sharp increases to firearms licensing fees, due to start on July 1.

The adult firearms licence application or renewal fee will rise by over 170 per cent from $179 to $487, while permits to acquire, firearm registration and registration of a person as a firearm user will rise by 50 per cent from $20 to $30.

SSAA ACT says the licence increase would put the ACT among the most expensive jurisdictions in Australia, at about $97.40 a year, compared with $40 in NSW, $63.70 in Victoria, $40.17 in Queensland, $35.20 in Tasmania and $26.20 in the Northern Territory.

ACT police say the new fees follow a review of firearms licence fees and charges by the government, and will support delivery of a new digital ACT Firearms Registry.

SSAA ACT says the increases are unprecedented and disproportionate, and has written to the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services calling for the full fee review, interstate comparisons and cost-recovery modelling to be released.

The association wants the increases suspended until there has been proper consultation with sporting shooters, primary producers, collectors, industry representatives and other affected licence holders.

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