PTA wait time in QLD

[Nathanthezoologist]

Wife submitted a Cat H PTA about 2 weeks ago. Called weapons licencing yesterday and they said there is a 3 week backlog at the moment and it'll most likely be another week

[rc42]

I called them on Thursday and was told that the Cat H license application backlog is currently about 12 weeks before they look at it, I'm only 6 weeks in and submitted my first PTA last week so it should be ready and waiting for the license approval which will likely be early April. (I don't want o say 'hopefully' as that's a terrible service but some have reported up to 7 months waiting and still no license)

I suspect that they have a much smaller team looking at Cat H licenses and PTAs as they do seem to be significantly slower at processing than the A/B

[StraightWhiteMale]

I don't understand how it can be so slow. It has to be intentional incompetence that is rampant in the unchecked public sector. Background check does not take long and looking at a club membership and saftey course does not take long either.

The money came out of my account instantly but the product comes when it comes. Good luck surviving in the real world private sector with that attitude. You would loose all your customers. This is why I love capitalism. The free market destroyes incompetence.

[rc42]

I put in a Cat A air rifle PTA on Sunday evening, got the email approval at 8am on Monday morning, just waiting for the email to get to the dealer and hoping that they will still be open when it gets there and not forced closed for being 'non-essential'

[DaveZ]

I put in a Cat A air rifle PTA on Sunday evening, got the email approval at 8am on Monday morning, just waiting for the email to get to the dealer and hoping that they will still be open when it gets there and not forced closed for being 'non-essential'

Wow, that's impressive. Must be luck of the draw, I put in my application on Friday, cat A 22lr, no word yet.

Cheers,
Dave.

[rc42]

Dealer got the PTA email about 3pm today so I dashed out and picked an air rifle from their stock.
Fastest PTA turnaround I've ever seen, maybe it's just air rifles that get the fast track as they don't really need any detailed consideration of what I already have under my license.

Anyway, only a few .177 rifles in stock so I had a feel of each and went for a Crossman TR77 Nitro Piston, lightweight, powerful but very loud and a nasty heavy long pull trigger that fires at some random point in its travel, unfortunately I couldn't test that in the store.
It will do though, with ranges closed it's safe to use on our small rural property so I can get my fix and practice off the shoulder shooting over the coming months.

Other countries have closed non essential retail outlets which includes gun stores, it's probably only a matter of time before it happens here too.

[DaveZ]

Dealer got the PTA email about 3pm today so I dashed out and picked an air rifle from their stock.
Fastest PTA turnaround I've ever seen, maybe it's just air rifles that get the fast track as they don't really need any detailed consideration of what I already have under my license.

As I still have heard nothing on my PTA, I am surmising that I have to serve the 28 day waiting period again. It was only a few weeks after having my first firearms transferred to me that I submitted the next PTA. I'm guessing the first ones had not made it on to their system as yet. The government wheel sure turns slowly

[Rwd22]

As I still have heard nothing on my PTA, I am surmising that I have to serve the 28 day waiting period again. It was only a few weeks after having my first firearms transferred to me that I submitted the next PTA. I'm guessing the first ones had not made it on to their system as yet. The government wheel sure turns slowly

More than likely mate, I dropped in another PTA several weeks after booking my first out. Hadn't registered with WLB yet so needed to serve another 28 day wait. I gave them a bell to check how they were going and received the PTA application approval email, but stated the date that it would be officially approved/issued after the mandatory 28 days. I've heard you can't dial into WLB at current, so might just need to play the waiting game.

I'm not sure what havoc the current restrictions are playing on recent PTA applications, I was tempted to roll the dice and get another one moving, but don't want to get caught in the restrictions and not be able to actually purchase anything.

[rc42]

The latest version of the Chief Health Officer directive on restrictions states that only PTAs issued prior to March 28th can be used for booking out firearms at a dealer so anyone that gets a PTA after that date will have to sit and watch the 6 month expiry getting closer with no ability to collect your firearm until the restrictions are lifted, or amended again.

https://www.health.qld.gov.au/system-go ... -direction


And yes, we know that this part of the directive has absolutely nothing to do with reducing spread of COVID-19 but the CHO directive tool is being used to push other labor/left political agendas.

[DaveZ]

The latest version of the Chief Health Officer directive on restrictions states that only PTAs issued prior to March 28th can be used for booking out firearms at a dealer so anyone that gets a PTA after that date will have to sit and watch the 6 month expiry getting closer with no ability to collect your firearm until the restrictions are lifted, or amended again.

I don't think that's quite right. I think if the PTA was issued prior to March 28th then there are no restrictions on acquiring the firearm, but if it was issued after that date then you have to have the appropriate code on your license and the rates notice/letter from landowner. That's how I read it anyway.

[Rwd22]

I think RC is referring to the average shooter, not one with OC conditions or RE with rural pest permission. I don't currently have land owners permission for pest control, so I fall into the every other licence holder category (The ones that are still restricted). However, my current PTA was approved in Jan and my rifle has finally come in at LGS, I'll be picking it up today.

[rc42]

Update from SSAA QLD Facebook page (about 15:00 on 15th April):

Please find below important information just received from Weapons Licensing Queensland in relation to the issuing of Permit to Acquires during COVID-19.



Good Afternoon,

As you are aware, the Queensland Chief Health Officer (CHO) has issued a non-essential business, activity and undertaking Closure Direction, which has determined licensed armourers and licensed dealers, as defined under the Weapons Act 1990, to be a non-essential business.

Weapons Licensing is continuing to process all applications that have been received and those that will be received into the future. The Permit to Acquire (PTA) will continue to be issued for 6 months in accordance with Section 45 of the Weapons Act 1990. Licence holders applying for PTAs should review their licence conditions to ensure they meet the series of exceptions listed in the direction prior to applying for a PTA. Whilst the CHO direction will not be an element of the application process, some licence holders not eligible to purchase firearms under the closure direction may find the PTA expiring should the health emergency declaration continue over the next 6 months and beyond.

PTA applications are being processed in order of receipt, with the majority of applications being processed within 21 days.

Weapons Licensing does not possess any authority to over-ride or amend a direction that has been issued by the Public Health Act or the Chief Health Officer. Due to the complex and evolving nature of the situation, we will endeavour to update our website with any changes to assist in keeping you informed. It is also recommended you monitor the Queensland Health site for any future amendments or revocations of directions.

Take care and stay safe.

D W BUST
INSPECTOR
WEAPONS LICENSING

[AussieCapitalist]

So QLD is still doing better than WA who are just blatantly denying everything. Firearm licences and PTA are easy revenue. Even if they expire the government knows shooters will just pay the fee again and they get more money. Every QLD sports licence has RE1 and RE2 but actually having a letter from a rural land holder or owning/renting your own rural property is what many do not have. You can buy 500 hectors at TARA for around 100grand. So whilst it is crappy land, it might be good for some during this time.

I did have a laugh about how dying is a legal reason to cancel a PTA.


"Section 45 of the weapons act

Term of permit to acquire
(1)A permit to acquire remains in force for the term, not more than 6 months, stated on the permit.
(2)A permit to acquire stops being in force if—
(a)it is suspended, cancelled, revoked or surrendered; or
(b)the holder of the permit dies."

[Patriot]

I have never known any business or organisation to have so many periods of ‘backlog’ ,there always seems to be one with WLB.

[Shootermick]

A shop here in Victoria put one in for me yesterday morning, it got approved the same day.

[AussieCapitalist]

I have never known any business or organisation to have so many periods of ‘backlog’ ,there always seems to be one with WLB.

Its good for funding. Always make out that a department needs more resources.

[Rwd22]

I rolled the dice and put it for another Cat B PTA, see if it comes back within the next 3 weeks as WLB states.

Date submitted 16/4/2020.

[DaveZ]

Got my Cat A PTA approval email this morning, 31 days after application. I'm sure I had to serve the waiting period again being only a couple weeks after getting my first firearm so not indicative of current wait times.

[No1_49er]

Is there something wrong with this much more recent thread? viewtopic.php?f=8&t=13392

[Rwd22]

Aside from it being housed in the Off Topic discussions, I can't see anything wrong with it?

[rc42]

Got my Cat A PTA approval email this morning, 31 days after application. I'm sure I had to serve the waiting period again being only a couple weeks after getting my first firearm so not indicative of current wait times.

The PTA approval email normally says "application has been approved", however, if WLB don't have firearms linked to your license because it's your first or because firearms from previous PTAs haven't been added yet (that step can take months) then it will say "will be approved on" and give a date about 28 days in the future.

That happened on my second firearm, an air rifle, I was notified that it would be approved in a month so I scanned the PTA document that I got from the dealer when I got my first rifle and sent it to WLB via email, a couple of days later my PTA came through to the dealer.

[AussieCapitalist]

Just applied for a 338 Laupa. Lets see how this one goes. Still waiting for my new licence in the mail.

[AussieCapitalist]

Anyone ever get the good news this early in the morning? Maybe working from home they make their own hours. I got my licence approval 7th April, which was 8 business day ago(because of Easter) and I applied for these 3 on February 20th. Two rifles and a 12 gauge. Still waiting for my licence to come in the snail and the 338 lapua.

[AussieCapitalist]

Got an email saying 338 Lapua is a high velocity round and it is illegal to shoot on or across private land without the owners permission. Then exactly one minute later I got an email saying its approved but they wont approve it for 28 days because of the waiting period.

[TassieTiger]

Does that mean it’s ok to shoot a 300wm across private land...?

[AussieCapitalist]

Does that mean it’s ok to shoot a 300wm across private land...?

HaHa man probably.

It was like a generic email that is telling people what they already know. "You must use it on private land with the owners permission or on an approved range which there are only a couple and you may have to reload to a lower velocity bullet to fit within the range velocity limits".

There has been a lot of hassle over the years with 338 Lapua in QLD. The police thought they were legislators and were rejecting people from getting PTA until people started suing them and the police lost every time because what they were doing was unlawful. The QLD weapons act puts 50 cal in category R, so must be inoperable for civilians(which makes it a very heavy paperweight). However any other calibre is legal to own as it is a category B firearm.

So my guess is that email is weapons licencing way of trying to "save face" amongst their department. I suggest every Firearm owner invests in a 338 Lapua or if its legal in your state a 50cal. It isn't cheap buy any means but boy is it fun.

I see you have a 300win mag. What made you pick that over the 338 or 50cal mate?

[Rwd22]

338 Lap is a hell of a round, I would definitely love to own one, even if it's just to let 10 or so fly a year. Factory ammo prices are pretty rough, easily avoided with hand loading but still an expensive cartridge either way.

From my understanding there is only a few selected QLD ranges that will let you use them there, not that that's a pain in the ass, who doesn't want to make a solid day of it, and that's also avoided if you have a decent sized property to make use of a cartridge built for long distance.

[AussieCapitalist]

Yeah there is not many ranges to shoot at but that's fine with me. I'm buying some big land to use it on and I don't mind driving a few hours to a range. If you can mate you should buy one. I paid for a Ruger precision, they look awesome. When you add on a scope and bipod the things are nearly 10kg. Not something to lug around the scrub shooting pigs with.

[Rwd22]

I've got the early stages of a 300PRC build in the works, so that should satisfy my 30 odd Cal magnum cartridge desires for a bit. 338 Lap is always in the back of my head though, let us know how you like the ruger precision when you get a hold of it. The set-up I'm building should see me in about a grand less than the ruger precision, which instantly means I can spend more on glass, haha.

[AussieCapitalist]

Sounds good mate. Post up some photos when your done. I was just looking at the cost of a good scope and they are more than the rifle is worth. Far out