The National Firearms Register Implementation Program (NFR) commenced nationwide on the 1st of July 2024.

This Australian Government initiative is the largest modernisation of firearms management since 1996.

Police agencies from each State and Territory, along with Federal agencies (Australian Border Force, Australian Defence Force, Australian Federal Police, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Department of Home Affairs) are working together to deliver this project.

Tasmania Police will be making changes to modernise our existing firearms management system. These changes will include an online portal for licensed dealers, firearms owners, and club representatives to complete simple transactions – licence applications and renewals, permits to acquire, registering sales, transfers, storage address updates and licence verification are among the process improvements planned. Capturing this information digitally will rapidly increase the availability of that data to Firearms Services for processing. This is something that firearm owners, licence holders and dealer businesses told us they wanted.

The project focus is to maintain consistent information nationwide and is not about complicating matters for dealers and licence holders. The NFR will make information sharing between states and territories easier.

This webpage will be updated regularly with project information, until the project is complete, which is expected to be 2028.

If you would like to receive NFR project updates directly please complete this form

You can also find more information regarding the project from The Department of Home Affairs here

Contact The NFR Project Team

Project Update September 2026

Over the past 12 months the project team have working hard to engage with firearms licence holders and information gathering for the design of our new Registry system. This icludes:

  • Validating data
  • Contributing to the Firearms Amendment (Strengthening Firearm Security) Bill 2026 for the required legislative change to support the NFR
  • Determining the features and functionality of the new registry system and online portal for licence holders.
  • Met with collector groups, sporting shooter groups, primary producers and dealers around the state
  • Surveyed Tasmanian firearms dealers asking for input into the new dealer portal and received some great feedback.

Data Validation and consistency– assigning the NFID template

Records Validation is underway. A major component of the NFR project for all jurisdictions, including us here in Tasmania, is to match all registered firearms (150,000+ in Tasmania) with the right NFID (National Firearms Identification Database) template. This ensures the data in the NFR is accurate and jurisdictions share consistent information with each other via the NFR.

When Tasmania Police register a firearm, we reference NFID the national catalogue of templates for firearms. From this catalogue we assign a template to the firearm.  The template captures/ identifies attributes of the firearm and is a nationally agreed standard to help Australian police, regardless of jurisdiction, identify and record firearms in a consistent way. 

The quality of data required to register a firearm has changed over the years.   We have been working hard to ensure our firearms data is correct, current and complete. While we still have firearms to match with an NFID template, we are getting through the records.  There is public access to the NFID catalogue, and you can have a look and search yourself on the ACIC website. https://www.nfid.acic.gov.au

Dealer Survey Results

In November 2025 we emailed a survey to all our Tassie dealers to gain a better understanding of how dealers currently maintain their records and share information with the Registry. We also asked for feedback on features to assist dealers in the future.

The survey results came in pretty much as we expected with most dealers operating on paper-based systems.

  • 58% of respondents run a fully paper-based system,
  • 42% using electronic registers (primarily excel spreadsheets),
  • 73% of respondents only submit paperwork quarterly,
  • 42% post paper copies to the registry,
  • 33% email their paperwork to the registry,
  • 21% do a combination of post and email,
  • 64% of respondents see benefit in moving away from paper-based copies,
  • 58% of respondents would still print copies unless the portal provides reliable record access,
  • 52% of respondents are interested in barcode scanning to verify a licence or PTA.

To meet the near real time sharing of information objective of the NFR and to create efficiencies dealers will have access to a digital portal replacing their current manual and paper-based processes.

Dealers will be required to submit records of sales and transfers through their portal direct to the Registry within 24 hours. By bringing interactions between dealers and the Registry online (specifically sales and transfers) the NFR objective of near real time information sharing will be achieved.

What exactly are the legislative changes in the Firearms Amendment (Strengthening Firearm Security) Bill 2026 that relate to the NFR?

The NFR related legislative changes contained within the Bill will ensure the objectives of National consistency (in relation to naming conventions) and near real time information sharing with police.

Throughout the legislation (multiple sections) Pistol has now been removed and replace with handgun

Section 19A: Firearms Dealer Employee Licence

Replacing paragraphs A&B with:

To handle firearms of a category specified in the dealers licence

To purchase, acquire, take possession of or sell firearms of a category specified in the firearms dealer licence, if the licensed dealer is

  • Absent from the premises and
  • Has authorised the employee to act on their behalf

To handle ammunition for such firearms

To verify licences and permits and other documents as prescribed under the Act

Section 25: Purchase and Sale

Has been replaced and is more detailed. The major change in this section is that ‘seen’ has been replaced with ‘seen and verified’

Section 46: General conditions of a licence – Firearms licence holders will be required to notify of a change of storage address.

Firearms licence holders to tell the Commissioner about changes to their name, home address, or the storage location of their firearm(s) (if stored elsewhere for more than 24 hours), either before the change happens or, if that’s not possible, within 24 hours afterwards

Section 56: Corresponding Licence

Moving to Tasmania from another Australian state or territory

Temporary use of an existing interstate firearms licence in Tasmania while applying for a Tasmanian licence.

To qualify:

  1. Be a current resident of another state or territory.
  2. Intend to move to Tasmania.
  3. Hold a firearms licence from that state or territory that matches a Tasmanian licence category.
  4. Notify the Commissioner in writing of the intent to live in Tasmania.
  5. Receive written confirmation from the Commissioner that the notice has been received.

Section 57 amended: Change in particulars of licence

Instead of notifying of changes within 14 days after, notification must now be at least 7 days before

Section 83 amended: Register of firearms

Requires the registry to be updated with detail regarding where firearms are actually stored, not just who owns them.

Updates terminology relating to a national authority.

Allows limited disclosure of register information when someone (such as a dealer) has a legitimate need to verify a firearms licence or permit.

Section 91: Alteration to dealing records

Does not apply to records made in the approved manner

Section 93 amended: Quarterly returns

No longer apply for the period if the dealer has already provided the commissioner with these details.

Section 98 and 103

Change from seen to seen and verified

Section 118 amended (Suppressors and magazines)

Removes ‘firearm sound’ from the section, and

Reduces magazine capacity from 15 to 10 rounds for a bolt-action centre fire rifle.

Section 121A This section is new. Before you lend someone a firearm you must do two things – check they can legally have it and make sure they can legally store it.

  • Check the borrower’s licence before lending a firearm.
  • Make sure the borrower can store it legally.
  • Tell police who has the firearm if asked.
  • Borrowers cannot lend the firearm to someone else.
  • While borrowed, the firearm is considered to be in the borrower’s possession, and they are responsible for complying with the firearms laws.

Contact the project team.

The project team remain committed to answering your questions, meeting with licence holders and interested parties, if you would like to meet with us reach out via email at nfr.enquiries@dpfem.tas.gov.au or fill in this form https://fas.police.tas.gov.au/nfr-project-enquiries/ and someone will be in touch, or you can call and speak with a member of the project team on 03 6232 7960

National Firearms Register

Frequently asked questions

> I received a newsletter in the mail. Do I need to do anything?

We sent newsletters to everyone who holds a valid Tasmanian Firearms licence. We are encouraging licence holders to ensure their personal details are up to date with Firearms Services. If you would like to receive regular project updates electronically, and haven’t provided Firearms Services with an email address yet, you can either sign up online via the link above, call Firearms Services on 03 6173 2720 to update your details or contact the NFR project team directly via email – NFR.enquiries@dpfem.tas.gov.au

> How is the NFR going to impact me?

Tasmania Police will continue to maintain the registry as currently happens, and the Tasmania Police Registry will integrate with the NFR.

To meet the NFR project system requirements, Tasmania Police are updating our current software system which manages the registry database. We might need to contact you to validate some information, but the NFR will have little impact to you.

> I’ve heard that all communication and licence tasks will be online. Is this true?

Part of the Tasmania Police NFR project is to make licence management tasks more efficient for us and you. This will mean that all current paper-based forms will be available online through a secure licence holders’ portal.

The portal will enable you to:

submit your participation records (for Category H Licence holders)

manage your own firearms and details online

submit licence applications and renewals

update your address and the storage address of your firearms

upload proof for your genuine reason

>Will I have to use the online portal?

While we are hoping that most, if not all, licence holders take up the option to save time and interact online. We are mindful not everyone has access to the internet, and not everyone is comfortable completing forms and tasks online, so there will be the ability to still do things the current way – on paper and in person.

While we envisage the system will be intuitive, we want to ensure that it is as easy to navigate as possible and will have support available if you choose to use the portal and will provide easy to understand ‘how to’ guides.

Dealers will be required to complete sales related updates and notify of firearms in their possession online, to ensure that information contained within the registry is up to date in near real time.

> How secure will ‘online’ be?

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) are responsible for the NFR. The ACIC are experienced with managing highly sensitive policing systems and information. The NFR is for law enforcement and select government agencies, it will not be accessible by the general public.

The Tasmania Police online portal will adhere to Tasmanian Government security requirements known as the PSPF and national cyber security ISM standards.

> Does the NFR mean that Tasmania will be making the same changes as Western Australia?

No. Each jurisdiction remains responsible for all aspects of firearm licensing, possession, storage, and usage. Tasmania will continue to ensure that legislative changes are only implemented after consultation with licence holders and other key stakeholders.  Legislative changes as part of NFR will improve consistency around the country but will not be making big changes to licensing rules including no limitations on the number of firearms that can be owned or changes to current storage requirements.

> Will I have to complete a self-check of my firearms like licence holders in the Northern Territory are?

We are taking a different approach to data validation than the Northern Territory. There are 150,000 firearms registered in Tasmania, and Tasmania Police will need to validate details for some of these. This is because over the years the amount of data captured in a firearms registration has changed. Many firearms have remained with the same owner since initial registration and haven’t been validated by a dealer in the past 20 years. Not only has data capturing improved over time, but also humans aren’t perfect, and errors can occur. To ensure national data standards are achieved we may reach out to you to clarify details of one or more of your firearms.

> What do you mean by National Data Standards (NDS)?

When Tasmania Police register a firearm and issue a registration certificate (a ‘blue’), a national catalogue of templates for firearms called NFID (National Firearms Identification Database) is referenced. From this catalogue, we assign a template to the firearm. The template captures and identifies attributes of the firearm and is a nationally agreed standard to help Australian police, regardless of jurisdiction, identify and record firearms in a consistent way. It is the assigning of a template that will make information consistent around the country. Tasmania Police will contact licence holders about firearm records with missing attributes. This will be via a phone call in the first instance.

> Will I receive a new ‘blue’ for any of my firearms?

Once all Tasmanian registered firearms have been assigned the right template and the data in our registry meets the NDS, we will assess if there has been a significant change in the firearm registration details which would warrant a new blue being issued. If required, new blues (registration certificates) will be posted to you.

If you notice a discrepancy within your registration paperwork, please contact the Firearms Services team to correct it.

> What legislation changes are coming?

The changes in legislation at both a federal and state level relate to data standards, consistent business practices, and sharing of information between jurisdictions. The legislative changes are not to make things harder for firearms licence holders, but to provide a consistent landscape for all jurisdictions. A part of the NFR is key definitions, this provides the State a chance to modernise some definitions and make them consistent with other jurisdictions.

We will provide information in our project updates when legislative changes are announced and feedback is open to the public.

> I want to talk to someone directly and have my questions answered, how do I do this?

You can email us with any questions, and a member of the project team will get back to you.

The Tasmania Police NFR project team are happy to meet with any community group which has an interest in the NFR project. We welcome invitations to attend club shoots, meetings and firearms related events over the coming 3 years to answer questions and share information with members of the community.

If you would like us to attend an event or meeting, or if you would like to attend a face-to-face session with us, please send us an email NFR.enquiries@dpfem.tas.gov.au

> The NFR is a national project, so why is each jurisdiction doing things differently?

Each state and territory manage its own firearms registry, and the NFR won’t change this. While the registries all follow the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), the rules and systems are not the same across the nation. Because of this, the steps to meet the objectives of the NFR project are different for each jurisdiction.

> Why will the project take so long to complete?

The NFR is a multi-arm project. It incorporates technology changes, data validation, and legislative amendments. All these project elements are complex and will take time to get right.

> I would like to be involved in the project, how can I?

There will be opportunities for firearm licence holders to participate in working groups and to help guide some of our decisions around technology and how it is used. If you would like to be involved, please contact the project team via email NFR.enquiries@dpfem.tas.gov.au  to register your interest, and we will be in touch.