Commonwealth Numbered Regulations - Explanatory Statements

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CUSTOMS AMENDMENT REGULATIONS 2002 (NO. 6) 2002 NO. 310

STATUTORY RULES 2002 No. 310

Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Justice and Customs

Customs Act 1901

Customs Amendment Regulations 2002 (No. 6)

Section 270 of the Customs Act 1901 (the Act) provides in part that the Governor-General may make regulations not inconsistent with the Act prescribing all matters which by the Act are required or permitted to be prescribed for giving effect to the Act.

Section 189A of the Act provides for Customs officers to be issued with approved firearms for use in certain circumstances. Regulation 168 of the Customs Regulations 1926 (the principal Regulations) declare a number of kinds of firearms to be approved firearms for the purposes of section 189A of the Act.

The purpose of the proposed Regulations is to add two new kinds of firearms to the list of approved firearms.

The proposed Regulations have the effect of amending regulation 168 of the principal Regulations to add the CZ .22 Bolt Action Rifle and the Remington 700 Bolt Action Rifle as approved firearms that may be issued to Customs officers for use under section 189A of the Act.

One of the circumstances in which Customs officers may be issued with the approved firearms for use is when the officers are conducting remote area patrols in parts of northern Australia. Customs officers investigate airstrips, landing and camp sites and other reported activities in the area. The firearms are issued to provide self defence from dangerous marine and land animals, particularly crocodiles, sharks, snakes and wild pigs. In emergency situations, the firearms issued may also be used to obtain food.

The amending Regulations commenced on gazettal.