Keeping Tasmanians Safe – Tasmanian Government media release
On Friday 27 February, the Premier provided details of proposed changes under consideration for Tasmanian firearms legislation.
Key proposed changes include:
- Introducing stronger penalties for theft and possession of stolen firearms;
- Accelerating work on standing up the National Firearms Register;
- Reclassification of straight pull and button/lever release (self-ejecting) centre-fire and shotgun firearms to Category C licence;
- Establishing Australian citizenship as the default eligibility requirement for firearms licensing, with provisions for limited exemptions in defined circumstances, including for primary producers and citizens from prescribed countries such as New Zealand.
The full media release can be found here: https://www.premier.tas.gov.au/latest-news/2026/february/keeping-tasmanians-safe