Firearms—Licensing and registration portal
943. Hon Dr Steve Thomas to the minister representing the Minister for Police:
I refer to the minister's avoidance of a genuine answer to my question without notice 894 asked on 21 October 2025.
(1) As at 20 October 2025, for all gun categories, if the transition of a firearms licence under the 1973 act to the 2024 act "occurs outside of the firearms portal" as per the minister's answer, how many transition licences under the 2024 act have occurred without the use of the firearms portal?
(2) Since 31 March 2025, how many existing gun licence holders under the 1973 act: have attempted transition to a 2024 act licence; had that transition determined or finalised by WA police; had that transition granted by WA police; and had that transition rejected by WA police?
(3) How many gun licence transition requests received via the portal are awaiting determination?
Hon Matthew Swinbourn replied:
I thank the member for some notice of the question. The following has been provided to me by the Minister for Police.
(1) As at 31 March 2025, all existing Firearms Act 1973 licence holders were granted a transitional authority upon the commencement of the Firearms Act 2024.
(2) The Western Australia Police Force have written to 59,354 licence holders to commence their transition, and 32,663 licence holders have had their transition determined or finalised by the Western Australia Police Force. This includes 25,996 licence holders who have successfully completed their transition. There have been 6,667 licence holders who have voluntarily made the decision to close their licence and 13 licence holders have been referred to Operation Larkman for consideration of cancellation of their licence.
(3) Transition of a Firearms Act 1973 firearms licence to a Firearms Act 2024 firearms authority licence occurs outside of the firearms portal. Transition is undertaken by personal contact between the Western Australia Police Force firearms transition team and the licence holder.
