FIREARMS

FIREARMS POLICY: SAFE, FAIR, RESPONSIBLE

Introduction

One Nation strongly supports the right to own and use firearms lawfully and responsibly. We do not consider that owning a firearm, in itself, is wrong or criminal.

One Nation supports the right of Australians to participate in sports involving firearms, to use firearms for hunting or recreational shooting, to collect antique and historically significant firearms, and to use firearms in rural areas for pest and stock management.

The South Australian government is a signatory to the latest National Firearms Agreement (NFA). One Nation considers the NFA is deeply flawed in that it places unnecessary and draconian restrictions on law-abiding people who legitimately own and use firearms. We consider that stakeholder and public consultation for the current NFA did not effectively include sports and recreational shooters.

One Nation seeks to end discrimination against legitimate firearms owners and users, ensure all stakeholders are fairly consulted in the development of firearms laws and regulations, and make existing laws fairer. We also seek to improve community safety by cracking down on illegal firearms use, with stronger penalties if firearms are used in committing crimes.

OUR POLICIES

Opposing further firearm restrictions after Bondi

In the aftermath of the atrocity committed at Bondi by radical Islamic terrorists on 14 December 2025, One Nation is opposing any attempt by Labor governments – such as the Malinauskas government in South Australia – to further restrict lawful firearm ownership and is pledging to reverse any further restrictions that could be made. One Nation cannot support lawful firearm owners being used as a convenient scapegoat for Anthony Albanese’s failure to check antisemitism in Australia. Our country doesn’t have a gun problem. Our country has an antisemitism problem, a radical Islam problem, and a rank opportunist of a Prime Minister who is using the Bondi atrocity to attack Australians who bear no responsibility for it.

One Nation has called on the Labor and Liberal parties in South Australia to resist any pressure to further restrict firearm ownership in the aftermath of Bondi. South Australia already has some of the toughest firearm laws in Australia, and are among the most restrictive in the world. One Nation will always oppose Bondi being used as an excuse to persecute South Australia’s lawful firearm owners.

Regulatory reform and resourcing

South Australia Police’s (SAPOL’s) Firearms Branch is poorly resourced, with firearm licence applications taking up to 18 months to process and permit applications taking up to six months. South Australian firearms laws and regulations appear to be designed to strongly discourage legitimate firearm ownership with heavy costs and excessive complexity. In real consultation with affected stakeholders and individuals, One Nation will seek to undertake a range of reforms by:

• seeking sufficient resources for SAPOL’s Firearms Branch to process licence and permit applications efficiently;
• streamlining firearms licencing, including standardising all firearms licence periods irrespective of the firearm category;
• removing current procedures requiring SAPOL’s approval for an applicant before FASAT safety training;
• opposing more caps on the number of firearms which can be owned by an individual, and removing current caps on air pistols, air rifles, black powder rifles, muzzle loaders and non-repeater calibre firearms;
• remove the six month waiting period between the issuing of Class H licences and being able to obtain a Category H firearm; and
• supporting the use of firearm noise-suppression devices for pest and stock management in rural settings, and for hunting and feral animal management, to protect against hearing loss for firearms users.

National Firearms Agreement (NFA) review

One Nation will seek to leverage its influence in state and Federal parliaments to advocate a review of the National Firearms Agreement (NFA), primarily to promote uniform rules and regulations across Australian states and territories.

Combatting discrimination and promoting responsibility

Lawful ownership and use of firearms should not be subject to any form of state-sanctioned discrimination. One Nation will combat this discrimination and promote responsible firearm ownership by:

• opposing the requirement for genuine antique or historically significant firearms to be registered as it provides no public safety benefit;
• amending laws and regulations which allow firearms to be banned based on their appearance, which is unrelated to public safety; and
• facilitating the participation of minors and juniors under 16 in supervised competition and recreational shooting.

Stronger penalties for unlawful firearm use

One Nation supports lawful and responsible firearm ownership and use, but also supports much stronger laws and penalties around unlawful firearm possession and use – especially in the commission of crimes. We will crack down on this by:

• supporting legislation that increases penalties for crimes in which a firearm has been brandished or used; and
• supporting stronger border controls and tougher penalties for illegal weapons trafficking.