THE state government will pay licensed gun dealers in Western Australia for surrendered stock ahead of the nation’s toughest firearm laws coming into effect.

Between now and January 17,  2025 licensed WA firearms dealers can hand over guns to  WA Police in return for up to $1000 in cash, depending on the type, style, calibre and age of each weapon.

The dealer buyback will see thousands of guns removed from towns and suburbs across the State and follows the government’s multimillion-dollar voluntary firearm buyback program, which resulted in close to 40,000 guns being handed in and destroyed over a six-month period.

It also allows individual firearm owners who chose not to participate in the previous buyback a further opportunity to sell their guns.

WA’s new firearm laws will be enforced from March 2025, placing a limit on the number of guns an individual can own and significantly hardening the rules around ownership.

Under the outdated legislation, to obtain a gun for hunting purposes an individual is required to get permission from a property owner to shoot on their land.

Currently, the number of property letters (written authorities) in circulation bears no relationship to property size and control of vermin with just eight properties in WA enabling close to 15,000 gun licences.

New requirements will restrict the number of property letters allowed to be distributed to a maximum of 15 per property subject to size, location and prevalence of pests.

It will also become illegal for property owners to sell property letters, with a fine of $5000.

Falsifying a written authority carries a maximum penalty of a year behind bars and a $12,000 fine. All current property letters will become void when an individual gun owner renews their licence.

In addition, property owners will manage active authorisations on a new digital platform, enabling greater control and providing police with real-time oversight.

Police Minister Paul Papalia said the buyback provides an opportunity for the industry to hand in their weapons before tough new firearm laws come into effect.

“Almost 40,000 guns were handed back to police as part of our voluntary gun buyback program and we anticipate thousands of additional guns to be offloaded by licensed dealers in the coming months,” he said.

“Our new gun laws are the strictest in the nation and prioritise public safety above all else.

“The new legislation not only limits the number of guns an individual can own but makes it harder for guns to fall into the wrong hands.

“I encourage anyone who didn’t take part in the previous buyback to consider selling their unneeded firearms to a dealer prior to the January deadline.”