An individual or organisation can apply for a Governor in Council Exemption Order to possess a prohibited weapon.
What is a Governor in Council Exemption Order
A Governor in Council Exemption Order exists where the Governor of Victoria, in consultation with relevant ministers, determines to permit a class of persons to engage in activities otherwise prohibited by the Weapons Act.
This may include:
- manufacture, sale or purchase of prohibited weapons or body armour
- possession, use, carriage or transportation of prohibited weapons or body armour
- display or advertisement for sale of prohibited weapons.
A Governor in Council Exemption Order may also exempt a class of weapons from classification as a prohibited weapon. The Governor in Council does not grant exemption orders to individuals.
The Governor in Council may attach conditions and limitations to an exemption order and certain individuals may be unable to claim one even if they are a member of a class of people awarded one.
Victoria Police are not responsible for the granting of exemption orders.
How to be covered by a Governor in Council Exemption Order
To be eligible, a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a specific club, group, organisations, or a class of person.
Enquiries regarding coverage under a Governor in Council Exemption Order should be made with the Department of Justice and Community Safety, not the Licensing and Regulation Division.
To apply for a Governor in Council Exemption Order, contact the Department of Justice and Community Safety(opens in a new window).
Storage details
Storage requirements are detailed in the conditions for each relevant Governor in Council Exemption Order or Chief Commissioner Approval.
Additional storage requirements may apply to particular weapons (eg. crossbows). The following is the minimum standard of safe-keeping for prohibited weapons.
Weapons must be stored in a manner which ensures that the item:
- is not readily accessible to anybody who is not covered by the exemption
- is not available for possession, carriage or use by a person who does not hold of an approval issued by the Chief Commissioner of Police or who does not fall within another class of exempt persons
- when being transported between the usual place of storage and to places where the item may lawfully be used, the purpose of which is the subject of this exemption, the weapon must be stored in a manner which ensures that the item is not readily accessible anybody not covered by the exemption.
Current Governor in Council Exemption Orders
Victoria Police is not responsible for the granting, renewal or maintenance of Exemption Orders. This responsibility falls to the Department of Justice and Community Safety.
We endeavour to publish here the most accurate Governor in Council Exemption Orders for prohibited weapons and body armour relevant to the general community, however, any person seeking to rely on a Governor in Council Exemption should make their own inquiries.
Chief Commissioner approval
You may also need Chief Commissioner's Approval to use certain prohibited weapons in Victoria.
Contact us
Get in touch about weapons through our online enquiry form.
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