25/05/2026
The Victorian Government has today effectively confirmed what licensed shooters have been saying for years: recreational shooting in Victoria is already heavily and comprehensively regulated.
There is a persistent myth that Victoria’s fi****ms laws were simply “set in 1996” and left untouched. That is nonsense. The laws evolve constantly and are amended regularly as technology, community expectations and operational realities change.
We will work through the detail of today’s announcement and say more in coming days. We are proud of the significant amount of work SSAA Victoria has undertaken throughout this process representing our members and advocating for balanced, evidence-based outcomes. We did not get everything we wanted, but that is the reality of living in an open democracy where competing views are considered.
Importantly, we understand that the Government has agreed to consider a number of recommendations and to continue engaging through National Cabinet processes. The reality, however, is that today’s announcement provides both closure and a defined path forward following the Bondi response process. SSAA Victoria is confident that we, together with the broader sector, can continue to work productively with the Victorian Government as those discussions progress.
The real credit here does not belong to us, or others across the sector who worked diligently and professionally behind the scenes. It belongs to the Premier and Cabinet for standing behind common sense, rejecting fear campaigns and recognising that Victoria’s licensed shooting community is overwhelmingly safe, responsible and law abiding.
There is still work ahead, but today’s outcome avoids the kind of extreme and unnecessary changes that would have delivered little public safety benefit while punishing ordinary Victorians who do the right thing every day.
READ MORE AT https://ssaavic.com.au/alert/