22 June 2017

Mr B Smith
BY EMAIL:  xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx.xx

In reply please quote:
FOI Request:  FA 16/11/01635
File Number:  ADF2016/72474

Dear Mr Smith
I refer to your email dated 21 November 2016 in which you request access to documents held by
the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (the Department) under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act).
1
Scope of Request
The Department has interpreted your  request as a request to  access the following
documents held by the Department:
'documents relating to relating to firearms that are deemed to be of "military
appearance" but have an action that is legal on category A or B licences in Australia
States and Territories. A specific example of this is the Troy Defence, TROY Pump
Action Rifle that was banned due to features that "substantially duplicate a military
firearm". Specifically:
1.  documents relating the criteria for Customs to ban the importation of a firearm by a
firearms dealer or other legal importer with the intent of legal distribution to the
licensed civilian market;
2.  documents relating to what constitutes so called "military features" and why
customs thinks it is appropriate to ban firearms on appearance but not action as
this rifles action would deem it legal in all states and territories on a B licence;
3.  documents relating to whether there has been any discussion or movement on the
TROY Pump Action Rifle's legal importation and if so what this is;
4.  any checklists for "military appearance" pistols, rifles and shotguns;
5.  documents that directly ban the TROY Pump Action Rifle from importation with
justifiable reasons why it is the case, and
6.  documents relating to who determines if a firearm "substantially duplicates  a
military firearm", and what their qualification is to do so both in experience with
firearms and knowledge with firearms and on an official level.'
This letter is to notify you of the Department's decision on access to the documents subject
to your request.

6 Chan Street Belconnen ACT 2617
1
PO Box 25 BELCONNEN ACT 2616 • Telephone: 02 6264 1111 • Fax: 02 6225 6970 • www.border.gov.au

2
Authority to make decision
I am an officer authorised under section 23 of the FOI Act to make decisions to in respect of
requests to access documents or to amend or annotate Departmental records.
3
Relevant material
In reaching my decision, I have considered the following:
•  the terms of your request;
•  the documents relevant to your request;
•  the FOI Act;
•  Guidelines published by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner under
s 93A of the FOI Act, and
•  advice from Departmental officers with responsibility for matters relating to the
documents to which you sought access.
4
Documents in scope of request
In relation to paragraphs 1-4 of your request, the Department holds no discrete documents
that fall within the scope of these parts of your request.
The importation of firearms into Australia is controlled under Regulation 4F of the Customs
(Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 (the Regulations). The Regulations are published at
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/F1996B03651.
The Regulations set out the criteria for the importation of firearms into Australia. These are
contained in Part 1 of Schedule 6 of the Regulations.
The Regulations do not control the importation firearms that  are of ‘military appearance’.
However,  the Regulations do control the importation of firearms that are ‘substantially the
same in appearance as a fully automatic firearm’.  The Troy pump action rifle is classified
under item 12 of Part 2 of Schedule 6 to the Regulations.
In relation to part 4 of your request, there is no checklist for firearms of ‘military appearance’
or firearms that are ‘substantially the same in appearance as a fully automatic firearm’.
In relation to paragraph 5, the Department has identified four documents that fall within the
scope this part of your  request.  These documents consists of a email between the
Department and the Attorney General's Department (AGD), an Explanatory Statement in
relation to a 2008 Legislative Instrument, a Notice of Recent Amendments to Schedule 6 of
the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956, and a letter from the Minister for
Immigration and Border Protection.
In relation to paragraph 6, the Department has identified one document that falls within the
scope of this part of your request. This document contains, in part, information relating to
the Training and Qualification of Firearms Identification and Safety Testing Officers (FSTO),
along with the Re-certification of those officers.
A schedule of these documents is at ATTACHMENT A for your reference.
These documents were in the possession of the Department on 21 November 2016 when
your FOI request was received.

2

5
Decision on access
The decision in relation to the documents in the possession of the Department which come
within the scope of your request is as follows:
•  release two documents in full, and
•  release three documents in part so far as they are relevant to your request.
The reasons for the decision are set out below.
6
Reasons for Decision
I am satisfied that I have been provided with all the documents that are relevant to your
request.  The schedule of the four documents that fall within the scope of your request sets
out the decision on access and, where appropriate, refers to various sections of the FOI
Act. My reasoning in relation to the application of each section to particular documents is
set out below.
6.1
Section 22 of the FOI Act – irrelevant to request
Section 22 of the FOI Act provides that if giving access to a document would disclose
information that would reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to the request, it is possible for
the Department to prepare an edited copy of the document, modified by deletions, ensuring
that the edited copy would not disclose any information that would reasonably be regarded
as irrelevant to the request.
On  25 November 2016,  the Department advised you that its policy is to exclude the
personal details of officers not in the Senior Executive Service (SES), as well as the mobile
and work telephone numbers of SES staff, contained in documents that fall within scope of
an FOI request.  Document 1 contains such details, and I consider this information to be
outside the scope of your request.
In addition, the scope of your request relates specifically to firearms. Document 4 is a letter
from the Minister which contains information that is relevant to your request.  However,
given the scope of your request, I consider that the individual to whom the letter is
addressed, and the individual who is named within that letter is not relevant to your request.
In relation to document 5, only part of this document relates to the training and
qualifications of a firearms officer, being paragraphs 2.2 and 2.3.
As such, I have decided that parts of these  documents would disclose information that
could reasonably be regarded as irrelevant to your request, and have therefore prepared an
edited copy of the documents, with the irrelevant material deleted pursuant to section
22(1)(a)(ii) of the FOI Act.
The remainder of the documents have been released to you as they are relevant to your
request.
6.2
Section 24A – Requests may be refused if documents do not exist
Section 24 of the FOI Act provides that the Department may refuse a request for access to
a document if all reasonable steps have been taken to find a document and the Department
is satisfied that the document does not exist.
I am satisfied that the Department has conducted reasonable searches in relation to
paragraphs  1-4 of your request, and that no documents were in the possession of the
Department at the date of your request.  As such, the Department has no documents to
produce, and I am therefore refusing access to parts 1-4 of your request under section 24A
of the FOI Act.

3

7
Legislation
A copy of the FOI Act is available at https://www.legislation.gov.au/Series/C2004A02562.
If you are unable to access the legislation through this website, please contact our office for
a copy.
8
Your Review Rights
Internal Review
If you disagree with this decision, you have the right to apply for an internal review by the
Department of this decision. Any request for internal review must be provided to the
Department within 30 days of you being notified of the decision.  Where possible please
attach reasons why you believe a review of the decision is necessary. The internal review
will be carried out by an officer other than the original decision maker and the Department
must make a review decision within 30 days.  Applications for review should be sent to:
Freedom of Information Section
Department of Immigration and Border Protection
PO Box 25
BELCONNEN   ACT  2617
OR
By email to: xxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx
Review by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
You may apply directly to the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) for
a review of this decision. You must apply in writing within 60 days of this notice. For further
information about  review rights and how to submit a request for a review to the OAIC,
please see Fact Sheet 12 "Freedom of information – Your review rights", available online at
http://www.oaic.gov.au/freedom-of-information/foi-reviews.
9
Making a Complaint
You may complain to the Australian Information Commissioner about action taken by the
Department in relation to your request.
Your enquiries to the Australian Information Commissioner can be directed to:
Phone 1300 363 992 (local call charge)
Email  xxxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx.xx
There is no particular form required to make a complaint to the Australian Information
Commissioner. The request should be in writing and should set out the grounds on which it
is considered that the action taken in relation to the request should be investigated and
identify the Department of Immigration and Border Protection as the relevant agency.
10
Contact
Should you wish to discuss this decision, please do not hesitate to contact the FOI Section
at xxx@xxxxxx.xxx.xx.

Alison Smith
FOI Officer | Freedom of Information Section
Information Management Branch
Corporate Services Division
Department of Immigration and Border Protection

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ATTACHMENT A
Schedule of Documents
FOI request:   FA 16/11/01635
File Number:  ADF2016/72474

No
Date of
No. of  Description
.
document  pages
Decision on release

1.

14/12/2016
2
Email from Firearms Team AGD
Relevant information
1843
released in full
Subject: Classification of Troy Sporting Rifle
2.
2008
7
Explanatory Statement – Select Legislative
Released in full
Instrument 2008 No. 255
3.

16/12/2008
1
Notice of Recent Amendments – Schedule 6 –
Release in full
Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956
4.

30/08/2016
1
Letter from Minister for Immigration and Border
Relevant information
Protection
released in full
5.
J
une 2014
2
Instructions and Guideline (pages 6 and 7 only)
Relevant information
released in full

Document Outline