Karrie Louden Barristers and Solicitors

22/01/2026

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08/12/2025

Disqualifying Offences Part 3

The Fi****ms Act s5 states:
disqualifying offence means an offence that is —
(a) a serious offence as defined in the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 section 128(1);

The CIA s 128 - Arrest power for offences
(1) In this section —
serious offence means an offence —
(a) the statutory penalty for which is or includes imprisonment for 5 years or more or life; or
(b) under the Restraining Orders Act 1997 section 61(1), (1A) or (2a); or
(c) that involves family violence as defined in the Restraining Orders Act 1997 section 5A(2)(a), (b), (e) or (j) or a threat to enact that violence; or
(ca) under the Bail Act 1982 section 50M(1) or (2) or 50V(1) or (2); or
(cb) under the High Risk Serious Offenders Act 2020 section 80(1); or
(cc) under the Sentence Administration Act 2003 section 30(2) or (3), 57(3) or (4), 74G(2) or (3) or 118(6); or
(cd) under the Sentencing Act 1995 section 33H(10A) or (10B), 33HA(5A) or (5B), 67A(6A) or (6B), 75(10A) or (10B), 76A(3A) or (3B), 84C(10A) or (10B) or 84CA(4A) or (4B); or
(d) under section 38C(2).

I am available for fi****ms licensing advice and criminal law advice on 0481307253

https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_225_homepage.html

05/12/2025

Disqualifying offences Part 2

Under the new Fi****ms Act the expanded disqualifying offences are numerous and difficult to follow. The definition in section 5 of the act is below:

disqualifying offence means an offence that is —
(a) a serious offence as defined in the Criminal Investigation Act 2006 section 128(1); or
(b) an offence under the law of another Australian jurisdiction that substantially corresponds to an offence referred to paragraph (a); or
(c) an offence under this Act that is prescribed by the regulations as a disqualifying offence; or
(d) an offence under the Weapons Act 1999 that is prescribed by the regulations as a disqualifying offence; or
(e) an offence under The Criminal Code that is prescribed by the regulations as a disqualifying offence; or
(f) an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 that is prescribed by the regulations as a disqualifying offence;

You can call me for advice on 0481307253

02/12/2025

The introduction of the Fi****ms Act 2024 has resulted in significant changes to the types of offences which are disqualifying offences. If you have a conviction recorded for a disqualifying offence in the relevant time frame, there is no discretion for the Commissioner, the SAT or even the Supreme Court to grant you a fi****ms licence.

I am available on 0481 307 253 for fi****ms licensing advice and all criminal matters.

(Gemini interpretation of a WA FAL)

06/03/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1EjVfzeWNp/

2024 Fi****ms Act

You have all heard about the new act and how it will change things for you as a law abiding shooter. Browsing through the legislation this little ripper comes up in relation to health assessments:

Section 148
(3) The Commissioner may require that a firearm authority health examination be carried out by a health practitioner (or a health practitioner of a kind) chosen by the person or by the Commissioner.

(6) If the Commissioner is provided with health evidence about a person pursuant to a requirement under this section, the Commissioner may request the health practitioner who provided that evidence to provide the Commissioner with any further information that the Commissioner considers to be relevant.

(7) Nothing prevents a health practitioner from providing the Commissioner in good faith with further information about a person pursuant to a request by the Commissioner (despite any duty of confidentiality) and the provision of that further information does not give rise to a criminal or civil action or remedy.
--------------------------------

The Commissioner can choose what type of practitioner you need to see and they can also choose the individual. This creates a huge problem with the Commissioner being able to select a practitioner whom will write a report for 'your benefit'. Your GP/Psychologist/Psychiatrist who you have a good rapport with and have known for years - too bad. They don't get to write the report.

The Dr also isn't bound by confidentiality of the Commissioner asks for more information - I don't know if AHPRA has been consulted about this but I can't imagine doctors will want to open themselves up to the risk of breaching confidentiality by providing further information to the police.

Just another poorly thought out section in this legislation which is open to abuse.

You know what you need to do to try to put a halt to this.



You can find the legislation here: https://www.legislation.wa.gov.au/legislation/prod/filestore.nsf/FileURL/mrdoc_47461.htm/$FILE/Fi****ms%20Act%202024%20-%20%5B00-00-00%5D.html?OpenElement

21/02/2025

You asked… here it is!

How to vote cards are here - just remember

14/02/2025

On Tuesday 11th February Robert pointed out the bigotry of NSW Police's Health Risk Assessment Guidelines by questioning how many vision impaired and wheelch...

13/08/2023

Unpaid Court fines?
You can now volunteer to help pay your fines off:

The Work and Development Permit Scheme is a partnership between the Department of Justice, Legal Aid WA and the Aboriginal Legal Service of Western Australia.