Non-citizenship raises licensing hurdles
The following shortened story was featured on the ABC website and featured SSAA Bowen’s President Marty Duggan and The Report magazine’s expert writer criminologist Suzanna Fay. For the original story go to abc.net.au
Since then, Queensland Police’s Weapons Licensing Group has released a Non-Australian Citizens – Fact Sheet that goes into further detail about the new requirements. It provided some clarification; however, it reads to us that applications and exemptions are subject to review on a case-by-case basis. Go to the fact sheet here.
ABC Rural
Citizenship rule takes effect amid spike in Queensland gun licence applications
By Aimee Mitchell (Published: 3 August 2026)
In short:
Queensland firearm licence applications were up 21 per cent in March 2026 compared with the same month last year.
Industry says concern over licence restrictions is driving demand but says there are multiple factors at play.
What’s next?
From August 3, non-citizens will not be eligible for a gun licence in Queensland, unless granted an exemption for sport or work.
New restrictions on who can own guns in Queensland come into effect today, amid a spike in new applications to register weapons.
The latest figures from Queensland Police show a 21 per cent rise in firearm licence applications in March 2026, a month after Premier David Crisafulli announced reforms in the wake of the Bondi Beach terror attack.
The ABC understands Queensland will join the Northern Territory and Tasmania in rejecting a national gun buyback scheme.
Several provisions of the act relating to antisemitism are already in effect, but from today only Australian citizens will be eligible for a weapons licence, and non-citizens will need exemptions for sport or work.
Industry and experts say uncertainty about future restrictions is among a mix of factors driving demand, with women leading the charge.
Uncertainty spikes demand
New Qld guns law restrict weapons ownership
The laws aim to crack down on rising gun crime and include tougher penalties for drive-by shootings.
Applicants must complete a safety course approved by Queensland Police before they can apply for a gun licence.
A firearms safety course Statement of Attainment certificate is needed before applying for a weapons licence in Queensland. (ABC Tropical North: Aimee Mitchell)
Figures to the end of May show there were 234,732 issued weapons licences and 1,171,717 registered weapons in Queensland.
In March, there were 2,387 new firearm licence applications, up from 1,971 the year before, a rise of 21 per cent.
Between January and April, applications were up 19 per cent, with more than 1,200 additional applications lodged compared with the same period in 2025.
New applications received
| YEAR | APPLICATIONS |
| 2021 | 17,353 |
| 2022 | 15,701 |
| 2023 | 18,086 |
| 2024 | 19,797 |
| 2025 | 19,320 |
In North Queensland, Bowen Sporting Shooters Association president Marty Duggan said a growing number of women were applying for gun licences and joining the sport.
Marty Duggan owns a hunting and shooting supply store in Proserpine in North Queensland. (ABC News: Aimee Mitchell)
“The last 18 months has seen an influx in women joining the club,”
he said.
“Husbands are getting their wives to join clubs so they can share the weapons if the Queensland Government do put a limit on them.”
While the reforms have influenced some of his members to consider new licences, experts who study legal gun owners say there were several factors at play.
The broader picture
University of Queensland criminologist associate professor Suzanna Fay has spent years researching Australia’s legal firearms community.
She said while it was unlikely there was a single explanation for the increase in licence applications, concerns over the reforms were a factor.
“I do think that the Bondi incident is probably playing into people’s concerns about what might happen to legislation,” she said.
“It’s hard for me to tell exactly what is driving that trend and it’s probably more than just one thing.”
She said nationally there was a longer-term trend of more women becoming involved in recreational shooting and shooting sports, as both clubs and family members increased recruitment.
Qld government won’t support gun buyback, ABC understands
Dr Fay said firearm ownership often served a different purpose in rural Australia than in metropolitan areas.
“The reasons for rural ownership are a bit different to city ownership of firearms. It’s really around farm work that’s intrinsic to their livelihood,” she said.
She said public debate after high-profile incidents such as the Bondi attack needed to be evidence-based.
“I understand that there are emotions in play, and the fear is very real,” she said. “But we need to make sure we have those discussions without driving everybody to extremes.”
Concerns over future law changes
The last of the reforms introduced by the state government are due to come into effect in 2027.
