MEDIA RELEASE - 26 June 2026
SSAA ACT Calls for Suspension of Massive Firearms Licence Fee Increases
CANBERRA, ACT – Sporting Shooters’ Association of Australia ACT Inc. (SSAA ACT) has called on the ACT Government to immediately suspend unprecedented increases to firearms licensing fees announced as part of the 2026–27 ACT Budget.
From 1 July 2026, the cost of an adult firearms licence application or renewal will increase from $179 to $487, while Permit to Acquire and firearm registration fees will increase by 50 per cent.
SSAA ACT has written to the Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Services expressing serious concerns about the scale of the increases and the absence of publicly available information supporting the decision.
“Responsible firearm owners support fair and effective regulation, but these increases are unprecedented and impose a disproportionate burden on law-abiding firearms licence holders.”
ACT Shooters Facing Record Fee Increases
The increase in the adult firearms licence fee represents a 171 per cent increase in a single year.
SSAA ACT believes this is one of the largest percentage increases applied to any ACT Government fee or charge in the 2026–27 Budget and significantly exceeds ordinary indexation or cost-of-living adjustments.
“This is not a routine adjustment. Licence holders are being asked to absorb a fee increase that is nearly three times the current cost, without any clear explanation as to why such a dramatic increase is necessary.”
For many recreational shooters, hunters, collectors, primary producers and sporting competitors, the increased fees will add substantially to the already significant costs of maintaining lawful firearms ownership.
Now a National Outlier
Based on publicly available fee schedules across Australia, the ACT will now have some of the highest firearms licensing fees in the country.
The new ACT licence fee equates to approximately $97.40 per year, compared with:
- NSW – $40.00 per year
- Victoria – $63.70 per year
- Queensland – $40.17 per year
- Tasmania – $35.20 per year
- Northern Territory – $26.20 per year
Employment-related licence holders will face even greater costs, with annualised ACT fees reaching approximately $243.50 per year compared with $50.00 per year in New South Wales.
“The Government has suggested these increases bring the ACT into alignment with other jurisdictions. The available evidence suggests the opposite—the ACT is becoming a national outlier.”
Questions Over Transparency and Commonwealth Funding
SSAA ACT is concerned that the ACT Government has stated that interstate comparisons formed part of the fee review, yet no supporting information has been provided to the Firearms Advisory Committee or the broader community.
The Association is also questioning why licence holders are being asked to bear such substantial additional costs when the ACT has already received significant Commonwealth funding to support implementation of the National Firearms Register.
“The community has not been shown the data, modelling or analysis used to justify these increases. Without transparency, it is impossible for stakeholders to understand how these fees were determined.”
SSAA ACT notes that firearms licensing fees have historically increased in line with standard government fee-setting practices and inflation measures. If additional revenue was genuinely required, gradual and predictable increases over several years would have provided a more equitable approach.
Call for Consultation Before New Fees Take Effect
SSAA ACT has formally requested that the ACT Government:
- Release the full fee review, including interstate comparisons and cost-recovery modelling;
- Explain the rationale for imposing the largest percentage increase of any fee in the 2026–27 Budget on firearms licence holders;
- Suspend implementation of the new fees until proper consultation and justification is provided; and
- Engage directly with sporting shooters, primary producers, collectors, industry representatives and other affected stakeholders.
The Association believes meaningful consultation is essential before changes of this magnitude are implemented.
Responsible Firearm Owners Deserve Fair Treatment
SSAA ACT represents thousands of responsible firearm owners who comply with extensive licensing, registration, storage and safety requirements.
The Association remains committed to constructive engagement with government and supports evidence-based policies that support public safety. However, it believes that regulatory fees must be fair, transparent and proportionate.
“Responsible firearm owners are committed to safety, compliance and working collaboratively with government. We are simply asking for transparency, accountability and a fair explanation for why ACT licence holders are being asked to pay some of the highest fees in Australia.”
SSAA ACT looks forward to engaging with the Minister and the ACT Government to achieve a more balanced and evidence-based outcome for the ACT firearms community.