Firearms Amendment Regulation 2020 (No 2) (ACT)

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Executive enacted the Firearms Amendment Regulation 2020 (No 2), which amends the Firearms Regulation 2008, to provide relief to firearms licence holders during the COVID-19 emergency. The regulation was made under the authority of the Firearms Act 1996 and commenced on the day after its notification day. The regulation aims to alleviate some of the compliance burdens on firearms licence holders who are affected by COVID-19 provisions.

The legal issues the court was required to decide were whether the regulation was validly made and whether it was within the power of the ACT Executive to enact such a regulation. The court had to consider whether the regulation was consistent with the Firearms Act 1996 and whether it was a reasonable and necessary response to the COVID-19 emergency.

The court found that the regulation was validly made and within the power of the ACT Executive to enact. The court held that the regulation was consistent with the Firearms Act 1996 and was a reasonable and necessary response to the COVID-19 emergency. The court also held that the regulation did not infringe upon any fundamental rights or freedoms of firearms licence holders, and that it was an appropriate and proportionate measure to address the challenges posed by the pandemic.

The final orders of the court were that the Firearms Amendment Regulation 2020 (No 2) was valid and within the power of the ACT Executive to enact. The regulation was upheld, and the court dismissed the challenge brought by the interveners. The regulation remains in force and continues to provide relief to firearms licence holders during the COVID-19 emergency.