Thread: Want to avoid jail - 900m close to a dwelling

Hello all,

I'm considering getting my license and a .22 rifle for pest control (possums & feral goats), stock euthanasia, and off handly mentioned this to my neighbor who rather forcefully told me he would happily call the police if I used it. He claims that law forbids shooting closer than 900m from the nearest dwelling. I've been unable to find a specific range permitted and don't want to fall foul of the law. I've reviewed the Arms Code manual and the Arms Act 1983 but am coming up blank.

Is there a resource that I'm unaware of that has this information or is he just blowing wind? I would like to get my license however can't see the purpose if I'm not allowed to use a rifle on my property.

Many thanks, members!

Cant say I have heard that one before.
Would make most lifestyle blocks illegal to shoot on so I doubt it.

I would recommend being discreet and very careful (always, anyway) using firearms on your property if the neighbour is opposed, depending on the circumstances and the area

Sounds like your neighbour is a whiney little person who is best cashing in their lifestyle property for a two bedroom flat in town.

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Sounds like your neighbours a cunt. He wouldn’t even hear a suppressed .22 at 900m! Probly wouldn’t hear it at 90m

It is inaccurate. Section 75 arms act

A person commits an offence...if the person, without reasonable excuse, discharges a firearm.... in or near a dwellinghouse or a public place so as to - (a) endanger property; or (b) endanger, annoy, or frighten any person.


There is no quantified minimum distance.

Originally Posted by gimp

It is inaccurate. Section 75 arms act

A person commits an offence...if the person, without reasonable excuse, discharges a firearm.... in or near a dwellinghouse or a public place so as to - (a) endanger property; or (b) endanger, annoy, or frighten any person.


There is no quantified minimum distance.

print off pertinent piece. Hand to neighbour saying arms officer supplied it and would welcome any queries

Originally Posted by Pushover

print off pertinent piece. Hand to neighbour saying arms officer supplied it and would welcome any queries

I would not print it and give it to him because of what (b) says - endanger, annoy, or frighten any person - he may well use that as the basis for a complaint.

Originally Posted by Bol Tackshin

I would not print it and give it to him because of what (b) says - endanger, annoy, or frighten any person - he may well use that as the basis for a complaint.

fair point.

Originally Posted by Bol Tackshin

I would not print it and give it to him because of what (b) says - endanger, annoy, or frighten any person - he may well use that as the basis for a complaint.

Except that the onus would be on him to prove that your intent was to annoy him. Pest control, target practice, recreation are all valid excuses, especially if you can prove that you have taken steps to reduce noise ie suppressed .22 with subsonic and are doing it safely.

I would definitely ring your AO and get his advice though.


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Originally Posted by Spudattack

Except that the onus would be on him to prove that your intent was to annoy him. Pest control, target practice, recreation are all valid excuses, especially if you can prove that you have taken steps to reduce noise ie suppressed .22 with subsonic and are doing it safely.

I would definitely ring your AO and get his advice though.


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All good, but I just wouldn't give him the thread to start pulling on. Let the neighbor put in the effort and do his own research if he feels so strongly.

your neighbour probably voted for Jazz cinderrr...

What Brakelie said. Be pre-emptive. Also repeat the conversation that you had, with the neighbour. All the commonsense advice re discretion (above) should be followed too. Just unlucky your neighbour thinks this way. Last year I voiced my concerns to my neighbour (3rd conversation with his wife-ever), over a 'proffessional -rabbiter' who was shooting onto my property, and leaving wounded magpies about. I did it after spotting him shooting toward my boundary from an elevated-point, where sheep were grazing behind. I got bollocked, accused of pissing her off with non-stop gunfire, and pretty-much told to piss off ! Despite pointing--out that it was another neighbours dedicated-firing-range (large-bore), on the other side of me ! She then proceeded to move stock, 4 days in a row, as I left for work at 7.30am. The positive thing is, she's 70-ish and cant last too much longer. You can never please people like this, so get all your Ducks lined-up properly first

You neighbor is a f.o.s. whiney nimby.

So clay birds at your place for the next year or two?


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