The NT Firearms Act 1997 requires that a person must have a genuine reason, and in some cases, a genuine need as well to qualify for a firearms licence.
At the Australasian Police Ministers Conference on 10 May 1996, a nationally agreed set of genuine reasons was accepted by all jurisdictions. The Northern Territory adopted these guidelines and any applicant for a firearms licence must meet the following criteria when applying for a licence.
Not all of the genuine reasons listed below apply to all firearm categories. NT Firearms Regulations 1997 place restrictions on the Northern Territory Commissioner of Police in granting of Licences for Categories C, D and H. These restrictions are covered by Regulation 12, 13 and 14.
The approved genuine reasons are:
- Animal protection
The applicant of this licence must have a genuine reason for possessing or using firearm/s in animal protection and must be:
- an officer of the RSPCA established in NT
- a registered veterinarian
- a person employed by a body, such as local council, that has a responsibility for animal protection
- an owner, transporter, drover or other handler of animals who may need to destroy animals to avoid suffering
This applicant will be eligible for a Corporate Licence, it is not the policy to issue individual licences for use in a business such as animal protection.- Business or employment
This type of licence is for applicants who have a genuine reason for possessing or using firearms that is business or employment related. The applicant must demonstrate that it is necessary in the conduct of the applicants business or employment to possess or use firearms for which the licence is sought.
This applicant will be eligible for a Dealer's Licence, Armourer's Licence or Instructor's Licence. It is not the policy to issue individual licences for use in a business.
- Firearm collection
The applicant for this type of licence must have a genuine reason for possessing firearms that is a collection of firearms, and must be:
- a member of an approved society or club, the members of which collect firearms of the kind for which the licence is sought and collect firearms for display:
- as curiosities or ornaments; or
- for their historic or artistic value, or mechanical uniqueness.
A Collector’s Licence or Antique's Licence would be issued for this type of application.- a member of an approved society or club, the members of which collect firearms of the kind for which the licence is sought and collect firearms for display:
- Inheritance
An application for a licence whose genuine reason for possessing a firearm as inheritance must:
- produce proof of inheritance; and
- not qualify to possess the firearm under any other licence.
An Heirloom Licence would be issued of this type of application.- Instruction in firearms use and safety
The applicant of this licence must have a genuine reason for possessing or using firearm/s in instruction in firearms use and safety must:
- have successfully completed a course in instructional techniques that is delivered by a registered training organisation (RTO) as defined in section 3 of the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (Cth); and
either:
- have successfully completed a course for firearms instructors that is delivered by an RTO; or
- possess the relevant skills, experience or qualifications to make the applicant suitable to deliver firearms use and safety training.
The applicant will be eligible for an instructors licence.
- Museum display
An applicant for a licence whose genuine reason for possessing or using firearms in a museum display must collect firearms for display:
- as curiosities or ornaments; or
- for their historic or artistic value, or mechanical uniqueness.
A Museum Licence would be issued for this type of application.- Occupational requirements
The applicant for a licence must have a genuine reason for possessing or using firearm/s that is an occupational requirement, and must be employed or engaged in an occupation that requires the possession or use of firearms, for which the licence is sought. An example of this is a professional fisherman.
This applicant will be eligible for a Corporate Licence, it is not the policy to issue individual licences for use in a business such as occupational requirements.
- Paintball operator or employee
The applicant of this licence must have a genuine reason for possessing or using firearm/s in the operation of a paintball business, operating an approved paintball range.
This applicant will be eligible for a Paintball Operators Licence.
- Primary production
The applicant must have a genuine reason for possessing or using a firearm in primary production, and must:
- be a primary producer or the owner, lessee or manager of land used for primary production; and
- produce evidence to police satisfaction that the applicant intends to use the firearms/s solely in connection with farming or grazing activities, this includes the suppression of vertebrate pest animals on the land
This applicant will be eligible for a Corporate Licence. It is not the policy to issue individual licences for use in a business such as primary production.- Recreational shooting/hunting
The applicant must have a genuine reason for possessing or using a firearm, one of these reasons is recreational shooting or hunting. This person must:
- be the owner or occupier of rural land, this being land that is of substantial size (cattle station, large farm etc.), it is not necessary for this land to be restricted to the Northern Territory;
- produce proof of permission given by the owner or occupier of rural land to shoot on the rural land (this permission must be in written form); or
- produce proof of permission given to shoot on Crown Land (obtained from the Department of Lands, Planning and Infrastructure), hunting reserves (obtained from Parks and Wildlife NT), and/or Aboriginal land (to be endorsed by Land Council or local council).
A Shooter's Licence will be issued for this type of application.- Sports shooting
The applicant must be a member of an approved firearms club, with a certificate that proves that the person is a current and active financial member of the club and has attended the required number of ‘shoots’ in the past financial year.
A Shooter’s Licence, Sport Shooter's Permit, Cat H Sport Shooter's Licence or Junior Club Licence will be issued for this type of application.
- Vertebrate pest animal control
The applicant must have a genuine reason for possessing or using a firearm that is for vertebrate pest animal control, and must be:
- a professional contract shooter engaged or employed in controlling vertebrate pest animal control
- a person employed by or in, or authorised by, a government or local government organisation, that has functions that relate to control or suppression of vertebrate pest animals. This includes such bodies as Conservation Commission etc.
This applicant will be eligible for a Corporate Licence, it is not the policy to issue individual licences for use in a business such as vertebrate pest control.