On 1 July 2024, the National Firearms Register (NFR) Implementation Program commenced. This followed National Cabinet’s agreement on 6 December 2023 to implement a register. The NFR delivers on an outstanding reform from the 1996 Port Arthur response.
Learn more about the
National Cabinet meeting.
The NFR will be an integrated system that creates one central register. This register will collect information from existing Commonwealth, state and territory firearms:
- registries
- portals and
- management systems.
The NFR will provide a life cycle view of registered firearms in Australia. It will deliver timely and accurate information on firearms, firearm owners and licences across all jurisdictions. The NFR will also improve police and community safety and improve law enforcement capability.
The Attorney-General’s Department and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) will lead national efforts to establish the NFR. The ACIC will develop and operate the NFR’s central register.
The ABF is collaborating with partner Commonwealth agencies and state and territory law enforcement partners to implement the NFR in import and export contexts.
ABF’s role in the NFR
Importers and exporters must already report firearms and related goods in cargo to the ABF through the Integrated Cargo System (ICS). The NFR will not affect existing cargo reporting processes or the ICS.
The NFR will draw information from existing ABF internal systems to enable near-real time tracing of firearms crossing Australia’s international borders. The ABF will also share information to the NFR on importers and permit holders associated with firearms imports and exports.
In addition to internal systems enhancements, the ABF will also be required make improvements to:
- legislation
- policy
- training and
- business processes.
This will enable the intended outcomes of the NFR.
The ABF expects to commence engagement on the NFR with import and export stakeholders in late 2025. The ABF will continue to update this page as work on the NFR continues.
More information on the NFR, including timeframes, benefits and additional resources, is available on the
Attorney-General’s Department website.
If importers or exporters have questions about our work on the NFR, they can email
nationalfirearmsregister@abf.gov.au
We will not action general firearms enquiries to this email. You can find general firearms information on the
Firearms page
