QLD weapons licencing waits

[Windston]

5 days until I hit the 12 week mark.
Did my id check last week though so can't be too far off right? Right!?

[Wm.Traynor]

5 days until I hit the 12 week mark.
Did my id check last week though so can't be too far off right? Right!?

You mean you fronted up to the station with your ID cards? Yes, going by my experience it might only take a week now. Good luck

[tofu]

applied 10/04 for Cat A/B license and CAT B PTA and still have not heard anything. not even request for ID.

and the kicker??? i work for the police...

Let me know when you hear something, I applied on the 19/04/18 for A/B

Hey JimmyJames, have you heard anything yet? im still waiting for an ID check.

[Tony86]

Hey Tofu, I'm about to hit 12 weeks on Monday still no ID check

Will be giving them a call on Monday see how my app is going

[Windston]

So I emailed them a few weeks back, and they told me to go and do the ID check. That was about the 10 week mark.

Today I rang them, and they confirmed what we have been hearing around here, which is the current wait is '14-15 weeks', so it looks like I still have another 2-3 weeks wait!

Pathetic!

[AZZA'S HJ47]

So put in for my cat h licence on the 17th of feb approved today

[Daddybang]

So I emailed them a few weeks back, and they told me to go and do the ID check. That was about the 10 week mark.

Today I rang them, and they confirmed what we have been hearing around here, which is the current wait is '14-15 weeks', so it looks like I still have another 2-3 weeks wait!

Pathetic!

Considering they had it down to around 6-8 weeks before the amnesty last year that's f@#ked!!
Only way to think of it is "there must be lots of people getting licensed"

[Angel]

So put in for my cat h licence on the 17th of feb approved today

Damn 17 Weeks. that is HUUUGE... I put mine in on 25 April, looks like i got a Looong wait ahead of me.

[AZZA'S HJ47]

So put in for my cat h licence on the 17th of feb approved today

Damn 17 Weeks. that is HUUUGE... I put mine in on 25 April, looks like i got a Looong wait ahead of me.

Better than the nine months I waited for my A & B licence.

[JimmyJames]

applied 10/04 for Cat A/B license and CAT B PTA and still have not heard anything. not even request for ID.

and the kicker??? i work for the police...

Let me know when you hear something, I applied on the 19/04/18 for A/B

Hey JimmyJames, have you heard anything yet? im still waiting for an ID check.

Nothing yet...

[Lokvo]

Lodged PTA on the 31st May for a 9mm. Called a few times after the two week mark, they said "shouldn't be too long now" blah blah, then called again this morning and the following was their answer; "when did you lodge you're PTA application?" I told them 31st May, was snickered at by the PTA officer and said that they're currently doing processing on the 30th....of June, i take it? so the new standard PTA turn around is 4 weeks? Has this been the basic experience by others? I'm in QLD.

[No1_49er]

Lodged PTA on the 31st May for a 9mm. Called a few times after the two week mark, they said "shouldn't be too long now" blah blah, then called again this morning and the following was their answer; "when did you lodge you're PTA application?" I told them 31st May, was snickered at by the PTA officer and said that they're currently doing processing on the 30th....of June, i take it? so the new standard PTA turn around is 4 weeks? Has this been the basic experience by others? I'm in QLD.

Given that the bureaucratic system is, allegedly, a "user pays" system, I suggest all you Queenslanders who are having difficulties, read the Qld Weapons Act 1990, specifically section 42, and the QLD Weapons Regulations 2016, specifically section 101. The Act and Regulations prescribe the waiting period/s. If WLB can't achieve those time lines, then I suggest you take it up with your parliamentary representative and have them ask why it is that a "user pays" system seems to be so under-resourced. You have to be bold enough to "kick the nest" sometimes.

[Daddybang]

The act and regs only outline the minimum waiting times for pta's there is no maximum time they have to be processed by.

[Lokvo]

It's just I've never experienced this long a wait with regards to a PTA even when I was purchasing my first lot of firearms ever, just gotta stop looking at the calendar I guess to avoid disappointment.

[Member-Deleted]

Given that the bureaucratic system is, allegedly, a "user pays" system, I suggest all you Queenslanders who are having difficulties, read the Qld Weapons Act 1990, specifically section 42, and the QLD Weapons Regulations 2016, specifically section 101. The Act and Regulations prescribe the waiting period/s. If WLB can't achieve those time lines, then I suggest you take it up with your parliamentary representative and have them ask why it is that a "user pays" system seems to be so under-resourced. You have to be bold enough to "kick the nest" sometimes.[/quote]

Here is what S 101 of the regs states.
"Waiting period for decision on application for permit to acquire
(1)This section prescribes the period for section 42 of the Act .
(2)The period is 28 days after the day the applicant lodged the application for the permit to acquire the weapon.
(3)However, the period is the remainder of the day on which the applicant lodged the application for the permit, if—
(a)the applicant already holds a firearm under a licence; or
(b)an authorised officer is satisfied there are exceptional circumstances."

This is the prescribed time for a decision, if PTA's are being held up, and if these prescribed times are being adhered to then, it appears there may be significant issues with the administration side of Weapons Licensing, I wonder what would happen if numerous applicants started challenging the process, or as suggested by 1_49er, some nest kicking occurred.

[No1_49er]

Here is what S 101 of the regs states.
"Waiting period for decision on application for permit to acquire
(1)This section prescribes the period for section 42 of the Act .
(2)The period is 28 days after the day the applicant lodged the application for the permit to acquire the weapon.
(3)However, the period is the remainder of the day on which the applicant lodged the application for the permit, if—
(a)the applicant already holds a firearm under a licence; or
(b)an authorised officer is satisfied there are exceptional circumstances."

This is the prescribed time for a decision, if PTA's are being held up, and if these prescribed times are being adhered to then, it appears there may be significant issues with the administration side of Weapons Licensing, I wonder what would happen if numerous applicants started challenging the process, or as suggested by 1_49er, some nest kicking occurred.

And there you have it.
The waiting period, if you already hold a firearm under a licence, is the remainder of the day on which the application is lodged. Very clear and very specific.

[Daddybang]

The waiting period only covers when a decision can be made not when it has to be made by. Eg for second and subsequent pta a decision can be made the day after the app has been lodged or it can be made weeks after the app has been lodged a simple way to fix this would be to regulate a maximum wait time.

[spartan71]

I submitted two PTA for Cat H firearms about a month ago. Two weeks from approval to fax at dealer. previous two were about the same.

[Member-Deleted]

The waiting period only covers when a decision can be made not when it has to be made by. Eg for second and subsequent pta a decision can be made the day after the app has been lodged or it can be made weeks after the app has been lodged a simple way to fix this would be to regulate a maximum wait time.

If you apply the waiting periods described in the Regulations, to section 42 of the act being,

42 Authorised officer decides application
(1) An authorised officer must decide an application for a permit to acquire a weapon as soon as practicable after the end of any period that may be prescribed for this section under a regulation.
(2) In deciding the application, the authorised officer may consider anything at the officer’s disposal.
(3) The authorised officer must consider the following things when deciding whether the applicant has a need to possess the weapon—
(a) whether the applicant’s requirements can be adequately met in a way not involving the use of a weapon or by using a weapon of another category or type;
(b) whether the applicant possesses other weapons, and in particular other weapons of that category or type;
(c) another thing prescribed under a regulation.
(4) To remove any doubt, a collector may have a need for a particular weapon even though the collector already possesses a weapon of the same category or type.

(5) The authorised officer must—
(a) approve the application and issue the permit to acquire subject to any conditions the authorised officer may decide; or
(b) reject the application.

The key point here is, "as soon as practicable after the end of any period that may be prescribed for this section under a regulation," as you correctly say, there is no defined period for the processing of the application, these sections apply only to the, "waiting period," however I would suggest that if taken to task properly, they may have to justify their actions or lack thereof, given the, "as soon as practicable," clause.

As you would see from the other thread on firearms laws, that I posted in this section, the QLD SFFP are wanting to get rid of the waiting periods and registration altogether, we also want to see the legislation changed so that it properly reflects what should be it's purpose, the enhancement of public safety, and we want to remove grey ares such as the example above, the best way to get people to obey the law, is to make it as easy as possible to understand.

[Daddybang]

Yep magnum it's that "as soon as practicable" part. Wlb simply uses the" large number of applications" defense to prove that it's not practicable to process any quicker. I've questioned wlb on a couple of occasions over this maybe if we can get your mob into parliament and make it a political issue things might be different or even get shooters union onto it. It would be great to see it gone altogether

[Member-Deleted]

Yep magnum it's that "as soon as practicable" part. Wlb simply uses the" large number of applications" defense to prove that it's not practicable to process any quicker. I've questioned wlb on a couple of occasions over this maybe if we can get your mob into parliament and make it a political issue things might be different or even get shooters union onto it. It would be great to see it gone altogether

That's our aim mate,

[Ghoatman]

Applied on 08/03/18. Cat A/B under Target/Sports reason. Also applied for 1x .22LR PTA and 1x .223 PTA
Got to bang on 12 week date, called WLB, got a "don't know how long it will be" response. They wouldn't even give me a rough idea.
Submitted a complaint via the QPS website, detailing what had happened up until this point. Quoted my application number and required details
Got an email 2 days later for ID check. Never actually got a response to the complaint, I'll take the ID check email as their response.
Did ID check, another 3 days and I have been approved, one f my PTAs (.22LR) also came thru immediately.
Wait another week, still nothing on the .223 PTA which was strange. Gave WLB a call, person on the other end was extremely helpful. Had a look into it while I was on hold, was told that something was not done correctly but all the checks were OK. Approved it on the spot and got the email about an hour later. PTA arrived a LGS a day later.
Still waiting on the plastic in the mail, has been approx 10 days since I received the licence approved email.

I can understand that WLB are busy, understaffed etc, but they just need to be transparent about the wait/processing times. Not knowing is half the frustration!

Edit: Card arrived in the mail today.

[Member-Deleted]

Applied on 08/03/18. Cat A/B under Target/Sports reason. Also applied for 1x .22LR PTA and 1x .223 PTA
Got to bang on 12 week date, called WLB, got a "don't know how long it will be" response. They wouldn't even give me a rough idea.
Submitted a complaint via the QPS website, detailing what had happened up until this point. Quoted my application number and required details
Got an email 2 days later for ID check. Never actually got a response to the complaint, I'll take the ID check email as their response.
Did ID check, another 3 days and I have been approved, one f my PTAs (.22LR) also came thru immediately.
Wait another week, still nothing on the .223 PTA which was strange. Gave WLB a call, person on the other end was extremely helpful. Had a look into it while I was on hold, was told that something was not done correctly but all the checks were OK. Approved it on the spot and got the email about an hour later. PTA arrived a LGS a day later.
Still waiting on the plastic in the mail, has been approx 10 days since I received the licence approved email.

I can understand that WLB are busy, understaffed etc, but they just need to be transparent about the wait/processing times. Not knowing is half the frustration!

Edit: Card arrived in the mail today.

That's it, if people know what is going on, they are more likely to be understanding.

[Tony86]

Hi all ,Update

Applied for license Cat A/B 26/03
ID check 18/06 (after phoning up on the 12 week mark)
Licence Approved 20/06
PTA Approved 21/06

I phoned up on the 12 week mark, The guy that answered the phone was great I told him I hit the 12 week Mark and he started my assessment straight away.
After reading through some of the comments on here it seems like luck on who picks up the phone at weapons licencing if they want to help or say "we dont know how long"

Can't wait for my first trip to Ripley range

[Member-Deleted]

Hi all ,Update

Applied for license Cat A/B 26/03
ID check 18/06 (after phoning up on the 12 week mark)
Licence Approval 20/06
PTA should not be to far off

I phoned up on the 12 week mark, The guy that answered the phone was great I told him I hit the 12 week Mark and he started my assessment straight away.
After reading through some of the comments on here it seems like luck on who picks up the phone at weapons licencing if they want to help or say "we dont know how long"

Can't wait for my first trip to Ripley range

Good work Tony, welcome to shooting, I hope you get as much enjoyment out of the various shooting and hunting disciplines as I have.

[Windston]

Hi all ,Update

Applied for license Cat A/B 26/03
ID check 18/06 (after phoning up on the 12 week mark)
Licence Approved 20/06
PTA Approved 21/06

I phoned up on the 12 week mark, The guy that answered the phone was great I told him I hit the 12 week Mark and he started my assessment straight away.
After reading through some of the comments on here it seems like luck on who picks up the phone at weapons licencing if they want to help or say "we dont know how long"

Can't wait for my first trip to Ripley range

I applied for my licence on the 22/03, rang them up on the 12 week mark and again today on the 13 week mark and got the same response. 'We dont know how long it will take'!
I asked if there was anything I could do to speed it up and they said that I could email them but it probably wont work. So I guess it depends on who you get on the other end!

[Ghoatman]

Do what I did and submit a complaint via the QPS website online form. Make sure your complaint is to the point and clear. Mine was sorted within 2 days of doing it.

[Windston]

I wrote them a nicely worded email earlier today, basically saying that I need it now as I am on break. I doubt it's good enough though. Let's see. 13 weeks and counting!

[trekin]

Yep magnum it's that "as soon as practicable" part. Wlb simply uses the" large number of applications" defense to prove that it's not practicable to process any quicker. I've questioned wlb on a couple of occasions over this maybe if we can get your mob into parliament and make it a political issue things might be different or even get shooters union onto it. It would be great to see it gone altogether

Their "" large number of applications" defense to prove that it's not practicable to process any quicker." does not hold water when you consider the large number of Authorised Officers that are being underutilised. Section 153 of the Weapons Act defines an Authorise Officer as;
153 Authorised officers
(1) For this Act, the following officers are authorised officers—
(a) the commissioner, an executive officer or commissioned
officer;
(b) a police officer appointed as an authorised officer by the
commissioner.
(2) However, a police officer may be appointed as an authorised
officer only if, in the commissioner’s opinion, the officer has
the necessary expertise or experience to be an authorised
officer.
As at 30 June 2017 there are 310 commissioned officers, https://www.police.qld.gov.au/corporate ... sonnel.pdf , stationed within the 5 Police regions and 15 Police districts in QLD.
Yes, seeing the arse end of the PTA system must remain the ultimate goal, but decentralising the powers of WLB, in the case of PTA's/licence renewals, would be an easier short term political argument to win as it still retains the objectives and the spirit of the Act.

[Daddybang]

Yep magnum it's that "as soon as practicable" part. Wlb simply uses the" large number of applications" defense to prove that it's not practicable to process any quicker. I've questioned wlb on a couple of occasions over this maybe if we can get your mob into parliament and make it a political issue things might be different or even get shooters union onto it. It would be great to see it gone altogether

Their "" large number of applications" defense to prove that it's not practicable to process any quicker." does not hold water when you consider the large number of Authorised Officers that are being underutilised. Section 153 of the Weapons Act defines an Authorise Officer as;
153 Authorised officers
(1) For this Act, the following officers are authorised officers—
(a) the commissioner, an executive officer or commissioned
officer;
(b) a police officer appointed as an authorised officer by the
commissioner.
(2) However, a police officer may be appointed as an authorised
officer only if, in the commissioner’s opinion, the officer has
the necessary expertise or experience to be an authorised
officer.
As at 30 June 2017 there are 310 commissioned officers, https://www.police.qld.gov.au/corporate ... sonnel.pdf , stationed within the 5 Police regions and 15 Police districts in QLD.
Yes, seeing the arse end of the PTA system must remain the ultimate goal, but decentralising the powers of WLB, in the case of PTA's/licence renewals, would be an easier short term political argument to win as it still retains the objectives and the spirit of the Act.

It may not "hold water" to anyone with half an idea but it is the excuse they use. Unfortunately it won't change just because shooters complain about it it's going to take political pressure