You can be fined for the possession or sale of a prohibited weapon without the proper exemptions or approvals.
Self-protection or self-defence is not a lawful excuse to possess these articles. Alternative options are to carry personal alarm devices such as whistles or personal protection alarms.
Common prohibited weapons
Commonly known weapons that are prohibited.
A machete is a large broad-bladed cutting knife. These knives can vary in shape and size.
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are agricultural exemptions or traditional, cultural and historical exemptions, which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
A sword is defined under Schedule 2 of the Regulations as being a thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two edges and a hilt or handle. A sword is still classified as a sword even if the one or both blades are blunt.
To be eligible for a GIC, a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
For a list of clubs, groups, organisations and class of persons covered under the GIC for Swords, read the General exemption to possess swords.
Sword
A crossbow is defined under schedule 3 of the Regulations as being a type of bow fixed transversely on a stock grooved to direct a dart, bolt or arrow and being, in particular:
a Pistol Crossbow, being a crossbow that is reasonably capable of being carried or concealed about the person and of being raised and discharged by one hand; and
a General Category Crossbow, being a crossbow that is not a pistol crossbow.
In order to possess a crossbow a person would need:
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
the appearance of which could reasonably be mistaken for that of an operable firearm; but
which is not designed or adapted to discharge shot or a bullet or other missile by the expansion of gases produced in the device by the ignition of strongly combustible materials or by compressed air or other gases, whether stored in the device in pressurised containers or produced in the device by mechanical means and is not capable of being made to do so.
To be eligible for a GIC a person must be able to demonstrate at the time of purchase, that they are a member of a club, group, organisations, or a class of person which has been granted a Governor in Council Exemption Order.
Definitions and images of the prohibited weapons used for martial arts are as follows.
An article that consists of a baton or stick constructed in such a way that it can be unscrewed or broken so as to form two or more parts joined by chain, rope or cord.
This includes the martial arts weapons known as "Baton-chucks" or "Bo-chucks".
Baton chucksBaton chucks
A knife with a 2 piece handle that folds together to cover both edges of the blade whether the blade is serrated or not serrated.
Butterfly knifeButterfly knife
The martial arts weapon known as a "Butterfly Sword".
Butterfly swords
An article consisting of a handle and an edged blade, joined by chain or a combination of chain and metal pieces or steel rods, designed to be used as a whip.
This includes the martial arts weapon commonly known by the names:
Chinese whip
whip spear
7 piece iron chain
9 piece iron chai
Bian Tzu Chiang
Lien Tzu Chiang.
Chinese whip
A scythe or sickle-shaped article designed as a weapon that has a fixed or folding blade, and which may or may not have a chain attached.
This includes the martial arts weapon known as Kama.
Kama Kama
An article consisting of a chain, rope, or cord with a wooden or metal baton, stick or rod attached at each end.
This includes the martial arts weapons known as Kusari-Fundo and Manrikigusari.
Kusari fundo
A stick or rod of any material designed as a weapon to be applied to the pressure points of the human body.
This includes the martial arts weapon known as Kubotan.
Kubotan
An article designed to be attached to, or worn on, the hands or feet, that has claws attached.
This includes the martial arts weapons known as ninja climbing claws, ninja hand claws and ninja foot claws.
Ninja climbing claw
An article that consists of two sticks, rods or batons joined by a cord, rope or chain.
This includes the martial arts weapon known as Nunchaku.
Nunchaku
Sai or Jitte, being a short, tapered, metal rod, dull at the point, with flared metal prongs guarding the handle.
Sai or JitteSai or Jitte
An article consisting of a blade or blades with cord, rope or chain attached for the purpose of enabling the blade to be thrown and retrieved.
This includes the martial arts weapon known as Shoge, ninja Kyokeysu-Shoge or Kyotetsu Shoge.
Shoge
An article consisting of a curved blade pointed at both ends with a handle attached to the middle.
This includes the martial arts weapon known as Suan Ywe Gou.
Suan Ywe Gou
A thrusting, striking, or cutting weapon with a long blade having one or two edges and a hilt or handle.
A sword is still classified as a sword even if one or both blades are blunt.
Martial arts swords come in a variety of forms and include samurai swords.
Sword
A sharpened star-shaped article designed for throwing.
This includes the martial arts weapons known as Surikan, Suriken or Shaken. This also includes where the throwing star is attached to a belt-buckle.
Throwing star
The martial arts weapon known as a Tonfa.
Tonfa
Prohibited knives and blades
Knives and blades which can be classified as prohibited weapons can only be lawfully possessed if a person has:
The following definitions and images of the knives and blades are prohibited.
A device or instrument designed or adapted to fire or discharge a knife, dagger or similar instrument by mechanical, percussive or explosive means.
Ballistic knife
A credit card knife folds into the shape and size of a credit card and is designed to be concealed inside a wallet or pocket.
A knife that has the appearance of two overlapping curved blades joined together so as to form an ellipse shape.
Under Schedule 2 of the Regulations a flick knife is a knife that:
has been designed or adapted so that the blade is concealed when folded into the handle; and
opens by gravity, centrifugal force, or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device that is in, or attached to, the handle of the knife
A knife that fits the above description is still considered a flick knife even if the blade is partially visible when closed.
Flick knifeFlick knife
An article that is designed to include a concealed knife or sword blade.
This includes:
a belt or similar article designed or adapted to hold a knife, dagger, or similar instrument so that the presence of the knife, dagger or similar instrument is concealed or disguised as part of the belt or similar article when it is worn (for example an article known as the "Bowen Knife Belt")
Bowen knife belt
a swordstick, being a cane, stick or similar article designed or adapted to hold the blade of a sword so that it is concealed from view until withdrawn from the cane, stick or article
Swordstick
a riding crop designed or adapted to hold a blade or spike so that it is concealed from view until withdrawn from the crop.
Riding crop
An open or exposed blade or similar instrument attached to a handle that is designed or adapted to be held between the knuckles.
This included the device commonly known as the Urban Pal Knife.
Knuckle knife
A knife, blade, or spike of which no part is metallic, excluding plastic cutlery.
A device designed as a weapon that consists of a single-edged or multi-edged blade or spike of any material that has a handle fitted transversely to the blade or spike and allows the blade or spike to be supported by the palm of the hand so that stabbing blows or slashes can be inflicted by a punching or pushing action.
Push knife Push knife
A knife that is designed or adapted so that the blade is concealed by a plastic, wooden or metal sheath which retracts into the handle of the knife by gravity or centrifugal force or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device in or attached to the handle of the knife.
This includes the knife commonly known as the black eagle knife.
Black eagle knife
A knife or axe of any material that is designed or modified to be thrown.
Throwing blade Throwing blade
A device that consists of a single-edged or multi-edged blade or spike of any material that is fitted with a handle made of any hard substance that can be fitted over the knuckles of the hand of the user to protect the knuckles and increase the effect of a punch or blow, or that is adapted for such use.
Trench knife
Body armour, extendable batons and disabling devices
Body armour, extendable batons, and oleoresin capsicum spray are subject to Governor in Council exemptions. These exemptions cover state and federal government employees, such as:
police officers
prisons officers and employees
lands and fisheries employees
Department of Sustainability and Environment employees.
Private security licence holders have an exemption for body armour and extendable batons, but only for the purposes of their lawful employment.
They do not have an exemption for oleoresin capsicum spray, or any disabling emissions device.
Definitions and images of body armour, extendable batons and disabling devices are as follows.
A device that is designed to cause permanent or temporary incapacity or disability, or to otherwise physically disorientate a person.
Acoustic device
An article designed or adapted to emit an electric current into a human body for the purposes of incapacitation or injury.
Taser
An article designed or adapted to emit or discharge an offensive, noxious or irritant liquid, powder, gas or chemical so as to cause disability, incapacity or harm to another person.
Capsicum spray
A garment or item that is designed, intended or adapted for the purpose of protecting the body from the effects of a weapon, including a firearm, other than a helmet or an item used to protect the face, eyes or ears, is prescribed to be body armour.
Body armour
A baton designed or adapted so that the length of the baton extends by gravity or centrifugal force or by any pressure applied to a button, spring or device in or attached to the handle of the baton.
Extendable batonExtendable baton
Other prohibited weapons
The following weapons are also prohibited and can only be possessed if the person has obtained a CCP.
There are no GIC exemptions in place for these types of prohibited weapons.
The definitions and images of all other prohibited weapons are as follows.
A blow pipe or similar device or instrument designed to propel an arrow, dart or similar projectile by air expelled from the mouth.
A dart designed to be projected from a blow gun or similar device.
Blow gun and dart
A Cat O’nine Tails with Knotted Lashes
Chinese whip
A slingshot designed or adapted to be used with an arm brace which fits or rests on the forearm to support the wrist from the tension of the elastic material used to propel the projectile.
This includes including the device commonly known as the saunders falcon hunting sling.
A catapult, shanghai or hunting sling that is manufactured and intended for commercial distribution.
A slingshot that is manufactured and intended for commercial distribution.
Catapult Hunting slingSlingshot
A device that is manufactured and intended for commercial distribution.
This includes the article commonly known as the darchery dartslinger.
An article that consists of a staff or handle that has fitted to one end, by any means, a freely swinging striking part that is armed with spikes or studded with any protruding matter.
A device or instrument designed or adapted to be worn across a knuckle or knuckles of the hand, finger, fingers, or thumb so as to:
increase the force or impact of a punch or blow when striking another person with that hand, finger, fingers, or thumb; or
protect the knuckle or knuckles from injury when striking another person with that hand, finger, fingers, or thumb.
A hand-held battery-operated article designed or adapted to emit a laser beam with an accessible emission limit of greater than one mW.
An article capable of causing injury that consists of a club or staff fitted with a flanged or spiked head, other than a ceremonial mace made for and used solely as a symbol of authority on ceremonial occasions.
Mace
A device that is designed to expel, on or after contact, any gas or other substance capable of causing bodily harm.
Shark dart
A glove or any other similar article designed or constructed to be used as a weapon, that has a number of raised studs or spikes made of a hard substance and positioned over the back of the glove to increase the effect of a punch or blow.
This includes finger-less gloves.
Studded glove
A glove or any other similar article designed or constructed to be used as a weapon that has weighted material sewn into it to increase the effect of a punch or blow.
