PAINTBALL will be legalised, people with stolen firearms imprisoned and the minimum age allowed to discharge a firearm reduced under changes to the Firearms Act.
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The government has today released its amendments to the act, which are expected to be tabled in early March.
Changes include an improved storage regime for all firearm owners and increased penalties for possession of a stolen firearm.
Among the penalties is a three-month mandatory prison sentence.
``We are not alone in our determination to strongly deal with the issue of stolen firearms with the Australian Government passing new laws this week that will see gun traffickers facing minimum mandatory sentences of five years' jail,'' Police Minister Rene Hidding said.
``Meanwhile, the minimum age to be allowed to discharge a firearm in the field – under the strict supervision of an experienced firearms licence holder – will be adjusted from 16 to 15 years to increase opportunities to learn safe firearms handling practices.''
Mr Hidding said further amendments would be outlined when the legislation was tabled.
