This section provides information on the safe and legal use of explosives by members of the community, the hazards and penalties of illegal use, and what to do if you want to surrender or dispose of an explosive, or come across an explosive while cleaning up after an emergency or disaster. It also contains information about collecting ammunition.
The use of explosives is controlled by the Explosives Inspectorate.
Read the information about the use of explosives in the mining and allied industries, and of how to obtain a licence to use explosives, including fireworks.
It is illegal to possess and use fireworks in Queensland without an authority. Fireworks bought in the Northern Territory cannot be brought into Queensland. Call the Explosives Inspectorate on 1300 739 868 to surrender them penalty free.
Explosives, fireworks, flares and ammunition are dangerous and pose risks if they are not stored and managed in a secure and safe manner and can become even more dangerous as they deteriorate with age.
If you have any type of explosive material or product - including fireworks and ammunition - that you don't want or possess illegally you are encouraged to surrender them without fear of prosecution or fines.
If you find or possess explosive material or products – do not touch them. Call the Explosives Inspectorate at any time, and we will arrange safe collection and disposal.
It is illegal to make, keep or use fireworks (including firecrackers) without a licence in Queensland. Unlicenced use and possession of fireworks (other than unrestricted items such as sparklers, bonbons, streamer cones or caps for toy pistols), is an offence and carries a penalty. Offenders can be fined up to $ 57,500 (400 penalty units), face 6 months’ imprisonment, and risk severe injury.
For penalty-free fireworks surrender call the Explosives Inspectorate on 1300 739 868 (24/7)
Explosives are frequently found in deceased estates or when people move into new premises. Sheds should be checked for explosives, along with associated equipment.
Explosives items can include:
For penalty-free explosives surrender call the Explosives Inspectorate on 1300 739 868 (24/7)
If you have small arms ammunition that you cannot legally possess, you can surrender it voluntarily without fear of prosecution.
You can:
You must dispose of out-of-date flares as soon as possible as their ability to function as designed is no longer assured. Expiry dates are stamped on the side of each flare.
Out-of-date marine flares can be disposed of in special collection bins provided by the Queensland Department of Transport at:
Refer to the list of flare disposal locations on the Maritime Safety Queensland website.
Hazards of storing propellant powders
Propellant Powders (Smokeless and Black)are common items in the shooting industry but are hazardous substances due their ease of initiation and flammability. At times we find that these substances have been stored in less than ideal conditions, and quite often in secondary containers (milo tins, food containers etc.).
It is well known that ammunition can deteriorate with age to a stage where it will not reliably fire. It is not widely known that propellant powder deteriorates and decomposes with age. A retardant is added to powder to stop or delay decomposition. However, in time, the retardant loses its effectiveness, decomposition sets in a spontaneous combustion can occur.
There have been several incidents involving fire and deteriorated or incorrectly stored propellant powder.
Below is a list of those incidents and suggested control measures to prevent them similar incidents reoccurring.
Nominated firearms dealers are authorised to collect small arms ammunition on behalf of the Queensland Government.
Contact a nominated firearms dealer for more information on surrendering unwanted ammunition.
| Business name | Business address | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
Halls Firearms | 42 Gladstone St | (07) 4922 6447 |
Gold Coast Shooters Supply | 15/34 Dominion Rd | (07) 5597 3220 |
Pelican Bill | 41 Main St | (07) 4091 1161 |
Dave's Disposals | 50 Callide St | (07) 4992 3801 |
HA Supplies | 8 George St | 0404 086 995 |
Careys Sportland & Marine | 43 Williams St | (07) 4786 1616 |
Browns Plains Firearms | E2, 3282 Mount Lindesay Hwy | (07) 3800 7949 |
The Firearms Warehouse | 32 Strathaird Rd | (07) 5531 7208 |
CRM Gunsports Pty Ltd | 293 Draper St | (07) 4031 4440 |
Cairns Shooters Supplies Pty Ltd | 205 Draper St | (07) 4052 1911 |
JP Motor Cycles & Armoury | 112 Parry St | (07) 4654 1940 |
Hollimans Hardware | 28–32 Mosman St | (07) 4787 1044 |
Scouller Saddlery | 76 Warrego Hwy | (07) 4662 8416 |
Lemmons Store Pty Ltd | 42 Scarr St | (07) 4742 1227 |
Rosslyn Cafe | 25 Wicks St | (07) 4655 1413 |
John Crooks Electrical & Hardware | 41 Murphy St | (07) 4958 1965 |
Queensland Gun Exchange | 181–183 Wellington Rd | (07) 3393 0933 |
Wallaby Jacks | 21 Clermont St | (07) 4987 5177 |
Gundy Sports Centre | 137 Marshall St | (07) 4671 1685 |
Gundy Guns & Outdoor Supplies | Lot 225 39 Old Cunningham Hwy | (07) 4671 2399 |
Halls Firearms | 103 Charters Towers Rd | (07) 4772 1605 |
Sports Power Ingham | 2/57 Herbert St | (07) 4776 2929 |
Innisfail Tackle and Sports | 85 Edith St | (07) 4061 1416 |
Kingaroy Firearms | Shop 2 106 Kingaroy St | (07) 4162 4833 |
Pine Rivers Lock and Gunsmith | 20 Paisley Dr | (07) 3881 1688 |
Glen Rural Traders | 129 Galah St | (07) 4658 2566 |
Mareeba Armouring | Lot 35 19 Wallace Dr | (07) 4092 5377 |
Cleaver Firearms | 27 Beaconsfield St | (07) 3883 1733 |
Ozzie Outdoors | 6 Shakelton St | (07) 4743 5558 |
Over The Range Hunting Supplies | 3/30 Bouverie Street | (07) 4165 4439 |
Oakey Oil & Battery Barn | 5 Campbell St | (07) 4691 1620 |
Hunting & Shooting Supplies | 1B Davy Avenue | (07) 4945 3046 |
Springsure Welding Works Pty Ltd | 1 Rainbow St | (07) 4984 1144 |
John Vichie Firearms | 24 Matthew St | (07) 4681 4620 |
Theodore Newsagency | 57 The Boulevard | (07) 4993 1252 |
Noosa Shooters Supplies | 597 Cooroy-Noosa Rd | (07) 5447 7789 |
FNQ Outdoor Game & Marine | 67 Main St | (07) 4095 4959 |
The Open Range Pty Ltd | 579 Ruthven St | (07) 4632 8258 |
SSAA Qld Shooters Supplies | 2/266 Brisbane St | (07) 3202 2111 |
Woodford Hardware | 98 Archer St | (07) 5496 1385 |
Rebel Gunworks Pty Ltd | 1 Atherton St | (07) 3391 6744 |
If you are involved in a clean-up after an emergency or disaster (e.g. fires or floods) you could come across dangerous objects such as explosives.
These could include:
The Explosives Inspectorate provides a 24 hour advice and response service to emergency agencies during disaster relief operations.
If you possess explosives or find explosives:
Collectors’ ammunition is considered an explosive under the Explosives Act 1999 (Qld). It is controlled under the Act for the safety of the community.
Collectors’ ammunition means ammunition that is not for use, including:
Small arms ammunition refers to ammunition for a firearm, including primers (cap type) used for reloading the ammunition for a shotgun and any firearm with a calibre no more than 25.4mm.
If you collect ammunition, you must either:
You may possess small arms ammunition and propellant powders only if you are licensed to do so or otherwise authorised under the Weapons Act 1990 to use a firearm.
Alternatively, you must be licensed or otherwise authorised under the Explosives Act to possess these explosives to import, export, manufacture, sell, store or transport.
You can’t fill or reload ammunition for distribution or sale unless you’re authorised to manufacture that ammunition under the Explosives Act.
This doesn’t apply to the following items, as they’re not considered collectors’ ammunition:
Products commonly known as reactive targets, reactive rifle targets, exploding targets or target indicators have been developed and marketed overseas, and are often sold online. Commercial names include Zomboom®, Shockwave®, Sure Shot®, Firebird®, Star Targets®, Kick Ass® and Tannerite®.
These explosives products are illegal and prohibited under the Explosives Act.
It is an offence to import, export and manufacture these items. The penalty can be a fine of up to 400 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment.
If you sell, store or use these items without an authority the penalty can be a fine of up to 200 penalty units or 3 months imprisonment.
This guide provides information on how to apply for a licence to collect ammunition, obligations under the licence, how to possess and store small arms ammunition and potential hazards to avoid.
A licence to collect ammunition authorises the licence holder to import, export, purchase, possess, sell, transport and store collectors' ammunition, but not to use the ammunition.
A security clearance is not required for a licence to collect ammunition.
Complete Form E200 - Application for an occupational authority (licence to collect ammunition).
Note: If you apply for an occupational authority, your biometric data (digital photo and signature) will be retained while your licence remains current. It will destroyed if your application is withdrawn or refused, or your licence expires.
Complete Form E202 - Application for a licence to collect ammunition corporate or partnership.
Licence fees for applications can only be paid for by credit card (via BPOINT) following submission of the online form. Read more information on payment of licence fees.
Fees for licences to collect ammunition
| Licence class | Licence fee and period |
|---|---|
| Licence to collect ammunition |
1 year $17.37 (excl. GST) 5 years $86.85 (excl. GST) |
Collectors' ammunition, other than small arms ammunition, under the category "other collectors' ammunition" must be free from explosives.
On the request of an Explosives Inspector, you must demonstrate that the collectors' ammunition is free of explosive material, to that inspector’s reasonable satisfaction. This may be achieved by a certificate from a competent person stating the items are cleared of explosive content.
Authorised collectors may sell collectors’ ammunition only to another authorised ammunition collector.
You must record a list of the items and ensure that no unauthorised person can access the collectors’ ammunition.
The organiser of an arms fair who holds an 'Approval to conduct an arms fair', issued by Queensland Police under the Weapons Act 1990, can apply for a permit to store explosives - arms fair.
This allows appropriately licensed and authorised sellers to store and sell small arms ammunition and collectors' ammunition at an arms fair.
A prescribed ammunition collector may be a:
A prescribed ammunition collector can purchase, possess, sell, transport and store collectors’ ammunition, but not import, export or use the ammunition.
They are authorised only while remaining a member of an approved collectors association.
An association may apply to the Chief Inspector for approval as a collectors’ association.
To approve an association as a collectors’ association, the Chief Inspector must be ‘reasonably satisfied’ that the association:
These collectors associations are currently approved:
If you’re a shooter, you must comply with relevant legislation and meet your duty of care regarding storing small arms ammunition.
Small arms ammunition refers to ammunition for a firearm, including primers (cap type) used for reloading the ammunition for a shotgun and any firearm with a calibre no more than 25.4mm.
You must store small arms ammunition (SAA):
Protecting SAA individually means the packaging or container protects every safety cartridge from damage or harm during normal storage, including friction, impact, static, heat in handling the packaging or container, and adjacent things such as chemicals, dangerous goods and water. (This doesn’t include abnormal or emergent situations, such as fire.)
A secure container is a spark-proof container that’s kept closed at all times except when the SAA is placed in or removed from the packaging or container. A spark from an external source can’t enter the secure container when it’s stored and not being handled. (This doesn’t apply to steel packaging or containers.)
Ice-cream containers, take away food containers, glass jars with screw lids, plastic bags with zip-lock seals, coffee tins and similar containers are not acceptable as secure containers. You may use them as inner packaging inside a secure container for storage.
You must store the SAA in a secured area in a separate area from firearms (with different locks and different keys or combinations), unless you’re authorised to do so under the Weapons Act 1990. A secured area might include a drawer, cabinet, cupboard, room or other enclosure that’s locked when no one is around.
If you store more than 10,000 safety cartridges in a secured area, you must display a classification sign (class 1.4S) for the cartridges you’re storing. The Australian Standard AS 2187 defines a safety cartridge as ‘a cartridge for small arms weapons or industrial tools which are explosives of Classification Code 1.4S’. A drill, dummy or inert round or cartridge is not a safety cartridge.
The classification sign—at least 100mm square—must be attached as follows:
See Explosives Regulation for more definitions and explanations.
Original packaging is the retail packaging supplied by the commercial manufacturer and sold over the counter at the retail outlet (e.g. a gun shop).
This packaging should be made from steel, aluminium, ordinary natural wood, plywood, reconstituted wood, fibreboard, cardboard, expanded plastics, solid plastics or in drums with removable head steel, removable head aluminium, plywood, and removable head plastic.
As the original packaging is considered a secure container, you don’t need an additional secure container as well.
Original packaging that you get from retail premises and store at a domestic residence is regarded as a secure container. This may be the inner packaging alone.
The term ‘in packaging or containers’ applies to storing SAA for own use either:
You would acquire this packaging or container for storing SAA, so it is not the original packaging from the commercial manufacturer (not the shooter who reloads for self-use). It does not have to be dangerous goods-approved packaging. The packaging or container must be similar to the original packaging.
No other specific requirements apply if the packaging or container is loaded into a secure container as explained above, or the packaging is a plastic box made for storing ammunition and is stored closed.
Note: A shooter who reloads their own SAA for their own use is a manufacturer. Reloaded SAA doesn’t need to be packed into original packaging (as above).
If the packaging or container meets the requirements of a secure container, you do not need an additional secure container. The requirements are similar in quality and material of construction as the original packaging (see above).
The packaging or containers for SAA need only be similar to the original packaging supplied at retail. The SAA should be:
Note: In an emergency, responders must be able to identify the contents of the packaging or container as SAA. You can put any other special information important to the shooter on the packaging or container.
The importation of ammunition (including components) and magazines is controlled under the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956. Importers must obtain permission to bring ammunition and magazines into Australia.
You can apply for permission to import from the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
Download the application to import Schedule 2 & 3 weapons from the Customs website or obtain one up from any Australian Customs Service (Customs) office.
You will need to include a written authorisation from the Queensland Police Service that you are legally allowed to possess the items in your home state (form B709B), and a licence to collect ammunition from the Explosives Inspectorate.
A completed application lodged with Customs takes at least 3 weeks to process. You must obtain permission before the goods arrive in Australia.
There are penalties for importing these goods without approval. Further information is available here.
Email Customs for advice before making a purchase: weaponspolicy@customs.gov.au.
Contact the Customs Information and Support Centre on 1300 363 263 or information@customs.gov.au for any Customs matters, or go to their website.
Homemade explosive mixes are highly unpredictable. Friction, impact, static electricity and heat can all cause them to explode. They can also become unstable when they are exposed to movement, metals, electricity, moisture, light or atmospheric gases and chemicals.
Homemade explosive devices are never safe. They can kill or maim the maker and people in the immediate area, as well as cause damage to property or serious fires. The damage from injuries can last for life.
The proliferation of explosives recipes online has been blamed for the increased production of illegal homemade explosive devices. These recipes are dangerous, incorrect and unsafe.
There are severe penalties in Queensland for making, possessing and using explosive devices illegally. Penalties of a fine of up to 400 penalty units or 6 months imprisonment apply for the possession and manufacture of explosives by individuals who do not hold a valid licence to own or make them.
Report suspicious behaviour by contacting the police in an emergency or the National Security hotline on 1800 123 400.
Be vigilant and look for signs of children and young adults manufacturing homemade explosive devices. These are some signs you should look out for and actions you can take following any suspicions.
Distress signals include:
You:
Check the expiry dates on the side of each flare and dispose of out-of-date flares as soon as possible.
Out-of-date marine flares can be disposed of in special collection bins provided by Maritime Safety Queensland.
No. It is illegal to possess the flares past the use-by (expiry) date.
No. Flares are only authorised for use in Queensland when they are within their use-by date. Once expired, they are unauthorised explosives. It is illegal to possess unauthorised explosives in Queensland.
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