Collectors’ ammunition is considered an explosive under the Explosives Act 1999 (Qld). It is controlled under the Act for the safety of the community.
Collectors’ ammunition means ammunition that is not for use, including:
Small arms ammunition refers to ammunition for a firearm, including primers (cap type) used for reloading the ammunition for a shotgun and any firearm with a calibre no more than 25.4mm.
If you collect ammunition, you must either:
You may possess small arms ammunition and propellant powders only if you are licensed to do so or otherwise authorised under the Weapons Act 1990 to use a firearm.
Alternatively, you must be licensed or otherwise authorised under the Explosives Act to possess these explosives to import, export, manufacture, sell, store or transport.
You can’t fill or reload ammunition for distribution or sale unless you’re authorised to manufacture that ammunition under the Explosives Act.
This doesn’t apply to the following items, as they’re not considered collectors’ ammunition:
Products commonly known as reactive targets, reactive rifle targets, exploding targets or target indicators have been developed and marketed overseas, and are often sold online. Commercial names include Zomboom®, Shockwave®, Sure Shot®, Firebird®, Star Targets®, Kick Ass® and Tannerite®.
These explosives products are illegal and prohibited under the Explosives Act.
It is an offence to import, export and manufacture these items. The penalty can be a fine of up to 400 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment.
If you sell, store or use these items without an authority the penalty can be a fine of up to 200 penalty units or 3 months imprisonment.
This guide provides information on how to apply for a licence to collect ammunition, obligations under the licence, how to possess and store small arms ammunition and potential hazards to avoid.
A licence to collect ammunition authorises the licence holder to import, export, purchase, possess, sell, transport and store collectors' ammunition, but not to use the ammunition.
A security clearance is not required for a licence to collect ammunition.
Complete Form E200 - Application for an occupational authority (licence to collect ammunition).
Note: If you apply for an occupational authority, your biometric data (digital photo and signature) will be retained while your licence remains current. It will destroyed if your application is withdrawn or refused, or your licence expires.
Complete Form E202 - Application for a licence to collect ammunition corporate or partnership.
Licence fees for applications can only be paid for by credit card (via BPOINT) following submission of the online form. Read more information on payment of licence fees.
Fees for licences to collect ammunition
| Licence class | Licence fee and period |
|---|---|
| Licence to collect ammunition |
1 year $17.37 (excl. GST) 5 years $86.85 (excl. GST) |
Collectors' ammunition, other than small arms ammunition, under the category "other collectors' ammunition" must be free from explosives.
On the request of an Explosives Inspector, you must demonstrate that the collectors' ammunition is free of explosive material, to that inspector’s reasonable satisfaction. This may be achieved by a certificate from a competent person stating the items are cleared of explosive content.
Authorised collectors may sell collectors’ ammunition only to another authorised ammunition collector.
You must record a list of the items and ensure that no unauthorised person can access the collectors’ ammunition.
The organiser of an arms fair who holds an 'Approval to conduct an arms fair', issued by Queensland Police under the Weapons Act 1990, can apply for a permit to store explosives - arms fair.
This allows appropriately licensed and authorised sellers to store and sell small arms ammunition and collectors' ammunition at an arms fair.
A prescribed ammunition collector may be a:
A prescribed ammunition collector can purchase, possess, sell, transport and store collectors’ ammunition, but not import, export or use the ammunition.
They are authorised only while remaining a member of an approved collectors association.
An association may apply to the Chief Inspector for approval as a collectors’ association.
To approve an association as a collectors’ association, the Chief Inspector must be ‘reasonably satisfied’ that the association:
These collectors associations are currently approved:
If you’re a shooter, you must comply with relevant legislation and meet your duty of care regarding storing small arms ammunition.
Small arms ammunition refers to ammunition for a firearm, including primers (cap type) used for reloading the ammunition for a shotgun and any firearm with a calibre no more than 25.4mm.
You must store small arms ammunition (SAA):
Protecting SAA individually means the packaging or container protects every safety cartridge from damage or harm during normal storage, including friction, impact, static, heat in handling the packaging or container, and adjacent things such as chemicals, dangerous goods and water. (This doesn’t include abnormal or emergent situations, such as fire.)
A secure container is a spark-proof container that’s kept closed at all times except when the SAA is placed in or removed from the packaging or container. A spark from an external source can’t enter the secure container when it’s stored and not being handled. (This doesn’t apply to steel packaging or containers.)
Ice-cream containers, take away food containers, glass jars with screw lids, plastic bags with zip-lock seals, coffee tins and similar containers are not acceptable as secure containers. You may use them as inner packaging inside a secure container for storage.
You must store the SAA in a secured area in a separate area from firearms (with different locks and different keys or combinations), unless you’re authorised to do so under the Weapons Act 1990. A secured area might include a drawer, cabinet, cupboard, room or other enclosure that’s locked when no one is around.
If you store more than 10,000 safety cartridges in a secured area, you must display a classification sign (class 1.4S) for the cartridges you’re storing. The Australian Standard AS 2187 defines a safety cartridge as ‘a cartridge for small arms weapons or industrial tools which are explosives of Classification Code 1.4S’. A drill, dummy or inert round or cartridge is not a safety cartridge.
The classification sign—at least 100mm square—must be attached as follows:
See Explosives Regulation for more definitions and explanations.
Original packaging is the retail packaging supplied by the commercial manufacturer and sold over the counter at the retail outlet (e.g. a gun shop).
This packaging should be made from steel, aluminium, ordinary natural wood, plywood, reconstituted wood, fibreboard, cardboard, expanded plastics, solid plastics or in drums with removable head steel, removable head aluminium, plywood, and removable head plastic.
As the original packaging is considered a secure container, you don’t need an additional secure container as well.
Original packaging that you get from retail premises and store at a domestic residence is regarded as a secure container. This may be the inner packaging alone.
The term ‘in packaging or containers’ applies to storing SAA for own use either:
You would acquire this packaging or container for storing SAA, so it is not the original packaging from the commercial manufacturer (not the shooter who reloads for self-use). It does not have to be dangerous goods-approved packaging. The packaging or container must be similar to the original packaging.
No other specific requirements apply if the packaging or container is loaded into a secure container as explained above, or the packaging is a plastic box made for storing ammunition and is stored closed.
Note: A shooter who reloads their own SAA for their own use is a manufacturer. Reloaded SAA doesn’t need to be packed into original packaging (as above).
If the packaging or container meets the requirements of a secure container, you do not need an additional secure container. The requirements are similar in quality and material of construction as the original packaging (see above).
The packaging or containers for SAA need only be similar to the original packaging supplied at retail. The SAA should be:
Note: In an emergency, responders must be able to identify the contents of the packaging or container as SAA. You can put any other special information important to the shooter on the packaging or container.
The importation of ammunition (including components) and magazines is controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. Importers must obtain permission to bring ammunition and magazines into Australia.
You can apply for permission to import from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Download the application to import Schedule 2 & 3 weapons from the Customs website or obtain one up from any Australian Customs Service (Customs) office.
You will need to include a written authorisation from the Queensland Police Service that you are legally allowed to possess the items in your home state (form B709B), and a licence to collect ammunition from the Explosives Inspectorate.
A completed application lodged with Customs takes at least 3 weeks to process. You must obtain permission before the goods arrive in Australia.
There are penalties for importing these goods without approval. Further information is available here.
Email Customs for advice before making a purchase: weaponspolicy@customs.gov.au.
Contact the Customs Information and Support Centre on 1300 363 263 or information@customs.gov.au for any Customs matters, or go to their website.
Collecting ammunition in Queensland, 26 Feb 2024, [https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/safety/explosives-fireworks/explosives/collecting-ammunition]
This document is uncontrolled when printed. Before using the information in this document you should verify the current content on https://www.qld.gov.au/emergency/safety/explosives-fireworks/explosives/collecting-ammunition.