NSW Farmers has presented the NSW Government with a list of issues it says needs to be addressed in the Firearms Regulation 2017, in light of recent changes to firearms legislation.

NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin said members had raised concerns about how the new settings would operate in practice.

“At the moment I’m hearing from a lot of farmers who don’t know whether they’re breaking the law or not because there’s this cloud of uncertainty hanging over them,” Mr Martin said.

“For farmers these are vital tools – expensive tools – that are needed to do a job, and we’ve made it clear to the NSW Government that it needs to get the settings right around their new laws.”

Among the matters raised by NSW Farmers are the design of any buyback scheme, firearm caps, mandatory gun club membership requirements, licence terms, resourcing of the Firearms Registry and appeal pathways for licence decisions.

For example, it argues that if firearms are required to be surrendered under new state-based requirements, compensation should reflect fair market value and include associated ammunition, accessories and parts.

It has also called for agricultural producers to be exempt from mandatory gun club membership requirements, particularly in rural and remote areas where facilities are limited.

NSW Farmers has further raised concerns about potential processing delays if licence renewal periods are shortened, and has called for the restoration of merit review pathways through the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) for licence decisions.

“We’re conscious that there are ways to improve practicality for farmers,” Mr Martin said.

“The process to update the Firearms Regulation 2017 must not be rushed and it must provide adequate consultation opportunities with key stakeholders such as NSW Farmers to mitigate adverse and unintended consequences for food and fibre production, and the state’s biosecurity and landscape management.

“We’re continuing to build engagement with government, opposition, crossbenchers and agencies to make the best out of this situation, so we can sort out the confusions, and let farmers get on with the important job of producing healthy plants and animals.”

Barwon MP Roy Butler has also been vocal in Parliament about firearms law changes and their impact on regional communities.

He has previously called for meaningful consultation with rural stakeholders and has argued that laws affecting primary producers must be practical and workable for those who rely on firearms for pest management and farm operations.

“The firearms licensing changes are complex and will take many months to implement, so whether this legislation is passed now or in 2026 after the appropriate consideration won’t affect the actual start date of the changes,” Mr Butler said in December 2025.

“The firearms industry hasn’t been consulted at all, and regional voices are being ignored, which means these new laws have plenty of unintended consequences.”

The NSW Government has stated that firearms reforms are aimed at strengthening oversight and community safety, with consultation on regulatory settings ongoing.