Australian Customs Notice No. 2026/26 (change in Australian gun laws)

Australian Customs Notice No. 2026/26 Firearms Import Regulatory Amendments From 13 July 2026, new requirements for firearms and related goods will apply, meaning: • some goods will be subject to revised import tests as set out in the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (PI Regulations). • These amendments are enacted by the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Amendment (Sports Shooters and Other Measures) Regulations 2026 . Summary of changes Reform measure Old treatment New treatment Assisted opening and straight pull shotguns and rimfire rifles Item 3 of Schedule 6 (Part 2) Category C article Item 3 of Schedule 6 (Part 2) Restricted Category C article Antique handguns Item 9 or 9B of Schedule 6 (Part 2) Item 9 or 9B of Schedule 6 (Part 2) Category H article Sporting association or body and sporting events None The Minister may specify by legislative instrument those which may apply to sporting shooters Detailed information Changes to the restricted category C article and certified sports shooter and certified international sports shooter definitions The definition of “restricted category C article” has been amended to include assisted repeating action and straight-pull repeating action firearms, covering both shotguns with no more than 5 round capacity and rimfire rifles with no more than 10 round capacity that are classified as Schedule 6, Part 2, Item 3 firearms in the PI Regulations. The addition of rimfire rifle allows for firearms commonly used by biathletes to be included under the articles eligible for import by or sale to “certified sports shooters” and “certified international sports shooters”. Sporting association or body and sporting events The amendments allow the Minister to determine associations, bodies, events and other criteria for the purposes of importing “restricted category C” firearms for sports shooting events via legislative instruments. Currently one instrument is in effect which specifies Biathlon Australia and biathlon events for the purposes of the PI Regulations. Import permissions for these goods will continue to be issued via the Department, who will assess if applications are in line with the new criteria