A new independent committee will review firearms licensing decisions that are currently made by police.

Associate Minister of Justice Nicole McKee says the committee will sit in panels of three, reviewing declined applications, imposed conditions and revocations.

“Allowing this process by people who are purely independent from the original decision that the regulator makes is quite important for transparency,” she says.

She says more than a third of decisions taken to the district court are overturned.

Members of the committee include former firearms officers, sports shooters and hunters. It will be headed by Judge Robert Spear.

A change under the Arms Act 2026, taking effect on 23 September, will let licence holders be suspended for up to 12 months rather than revoked.

“We don’t want people being fearful of trying to get help for mental health problems.”

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