ACT Government Fast-Tracks Comprehensive Firearm Reforms
The Australian Capital Territory is moving swiftly to implement significant new firearm legislation, with the ACT Legislative Assembly set to reconvene this week and introduce the Firearms (Public Safety) Amendment Bill 2026. This landmark bill represents a major overhaul of gun laws in the territory, focusing on three critical areas: limiting individual firearm ownership, recategorising permissible weapon types, and criminalising the possession of blueprints for 3D-printed firearms.
Direct Response to National Security Threats
The urgency behind these reforms stems directly from the Bondi Beach terror attack on December 14 last year, where two gunmen tragically killed 15 people. Minister for Police Dr Marisa Paterson has emphasised that community safety is the paramount priority, stating these laws address identified risks in uncapped firearm ownership and ensure modern, nationally consistent regulations.
"Canberrans expect firearms laws that put community safety first," Minister Paterson declared. "These new laws address identified risks in uncapped firearm ownership, and reclassify firearms to ensure modern, nationally consistent laws."
Key Provisions of the New Legislation
The proposed bill introduces several groundbreaking measures:
- Ownership Caps: Licence holders will be restricted to owning a maximum of five firearms, with clear exemptions allowing up to ten firearms for genuine occupational or sporting purposes.
- Firearm Recategorisation: Several firearm types will be reclassified, with specific limits on magazine capacity and restrictions on rapid-fire weapons to tighten the types of firearms permitted in the territory.
- 3D-Printing Crackdown: A new offence will be created for possessing digital blueprints used to produce firearms or firearm parts through 3D-printing technology.
Tackling the Emerging Threat of 3D-Printed Weapons
The legislation specifically addresses the growing concern around illegal weapons manufactured using 3D-printing technology. ACT Policing has expressed reasonable suspicion that manufacturing 3D-printed guns may become increasingly attractive to criminal groups as printing technology matures. Since 2023, authorities have recovered eleven such items in the territory.
This follows a concerning incident in April 2025 when a "misguided" Canberra teacher was found in possession of 3D-printed gun parts. The new laws aim to close legislative gaps by making it a criminal offence to possess the blueprints required to produce these illegal firearms.
Aligning with National Initiatives and Future Plans
The ACT reforms align with the National Cabinet's decision to strengthen firearm laws across Australia. A government spokeswoman confirmed the territory will introduce further improvements in coming months as part of this coordinated national approach.
Minister Paterson revealed the government is actively working on multiple tranches of firearms legislation throughout 2026. Immediate priorities include reviewing the territory's licensing scheme, following similar reforms implemented in New South Wales and Western Australia last year.
Additionally, the ACT continues to progress its National Firearms Register multi-year project, which involves upgrading the territory's existing, largely paper-based firearms register. This upgrade, due for completion in 2028, aims to provide better understanding of gun ownership density, including maximum numbers owned by individuals.
"With everything that's happened over the summer with Bondi and another horrific incident in New South Wales [this month], we're really keen to see this National Firearms register established," Minister Paterson told The Canberra Times.
The ACT government will also monitor the federal government's implementation of major gun reforms this year, including the national buyback scheme, while continuing to examine firearms licensing within the territory.
