The Tasmanian government is seeking public feedback on new draft firearms laws that would introduce mandatory jail time for stealing a gun. Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management, Felix Ellis, announced on Friday that the proposed changes aim to crack down on criminals and the black market trade.
Under the Firearms Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2026, anyone convicted of stealing a firearm or being in possession of a stolen firearm would face a minimum mandatory sentence of three months in prison. “If you steal a firearm, or you’re caught with a stolen firearm, you should expect to spend time behind bars,” Mr Ellis said in a statement. He stated that stolen firearms “fuel the black market, empower organised crime and put our community at risk.”
The proposed legislation also seeks to increase the maximum penalty for possessing a stolen firearm from 100 to 300 penalty units, and adds a possible jail term of up to five years, according to reporting from The Mercury.
These changes are part of a broader suite of reforms that also prepare Tasmania for the new National Firearms Register. This national register, agreed to by Australian governments in 2023, will allow police forces across the country to share firearm and licence information in near-real time. Mr Ellis said these reforms are about ensuring law enforcement has the right information when making decisions about firearm access.
The government has confirmed the proposed laws do not include a cap on the number of firearms an individual can own, a point noted in previous discussions on firearm reform earlier this year.
The draft bill is now open for public consultation. The government has invited Tasmanians to provide feedback on the proposed changes. Submissions can be made until 5pm on Friday, 7 August 2026, via the Tasmania Police consultations website, as stated in the government’s release. The original reporting on this story can be found on the ABC News website.