Prohibited Weapons

Prohibited Weapons Permits

New South Wales:

Application forms for prohibited weapon permits are only available by phoning the Firearms Registry on 1300-362-562 (within NSW) or 02 6670-8590 (interstate residents) or emailing permits@police.nsw.gov.au. Once completed, the form and any supporting documentation must be returned to the Firearms Registry.

Sporting Permit Application
(Sporting Permit applic NSW.pdf)

Sporting Permit Guidelines
(Sporting Permit Guidelines NSW.pdf)

Victoria:

Application for Chief Commissioner’s Approval or Governor in Council Exemption to Possess Prohibited Weapon(s)
(Weapons Permit Application – VIC.pdf)

Prohibited Weapons Legislation – Victoria plus list
(Prohibited weapons law & list VIC.pdf)

Australian Capital Territory:

Permits for possession, use and display of prohibited weapons must be presented in person at the Firearms Registry in Mitchell.
(Weapons Permit Application – ACT.pdf)

Firearms Forms
Australian Capital Territory Policing (act.gov.au)

Prohibited Weapons Act (ACT) 1996
(Prohibited Weapons Act 1996 | Acts)

A “prohibited weapon” is any weapon or article that a person may not possess without a permit issued by the Commissioner for Police for the relevant state or territory. Common examples from the NSW list relevant to martial arts practitioners are Nunchaku and side-handled batons (tonfa). Whilst listings of prohibited weapons vary from state to state, Police Ministers, in June 2001, put forward proposals calling for uniform National Prohibited Weapons Legislations. The KWA supports this move.

For martial arts practitioners who desire to instruct in the use of an article that may be prohibited in NSW, Victoria and ACT, there already exists a “Prohibited Weapons Permit” system that will only allow a permit to be issued to bona fide accredited martial arts instructors. For the purposes of this policy implementation, an “accredited instructor” is defined as a martial arts instructor who:

  • is an accredited instructor with the National Coaching Accreditation Scheme (administered by the Australian Sports Commission) or
  • is an accredited instructor with the National Martial Arts Instructors Accreditation Scheme administered by the Martial Arts Industry Association (MAIA) or
  • is an accredited instructor with the Australian National Training Authority and is so qualified as a trainer under the Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Act 1990.

For information on Accreditation, click on Instructor Accreditation in the menu bar.

It is important to note that the Martial Arts Industry Association does not issue Prohibited Weapons Permits. Permits are issued solely by the Police Service for the relevant state or territory. The Martial Arts Industry Association’s role is to confirm for the Police Service the bona fides of an applicant’s instructor accreditation.

The procedures concerning applying for a Prohibited Weapons licence in NSW and Victoria are detailed on application forms that may be downloaded from our Forms and Publications page.

CLASS EXEMPTION TAI CHI WUSHU SWORDS CONTROL OF WEAPONS ACT 2000 and REGULATONS 2004

The class or general exemption applies to KWA members in that all, KWA members are covered by the Class or General exemption to the prohibition of swords in Victoria.

(A sword is a thrusting, striking or cutting weapon with a long blade having 1 or 2 cutting edges and a hilt, The definition applies inter alia to a Tai Chi or Wushu straight sword or broadsword (sabre) only and it will be in that context it will be used here)

SWORDS ARE PROHIBITED WEAPONS IN VICTORIA and an instructor requires an individual permit or needs to be a member of an organisation that has been gazetted as having been granted an exemption. The KWA has been granted such an exemption and it is recommended that a copy of your membership certificate is carried with you if you are transporting, teaching or training with swords.