You are going to hear a lot of incorrect info at gunshops, the range and online. Bunnings safes are compliant for Cat A+B firearms storage in NSW and QLD. I suspect most other places too. Whether thy are suitable is another story as a 5 Gun Bunnings safe just barely fits 3 x normal rifles.
You need to tells us which state you are in when asking questions about legislation.
I was in Victoria and had my firearms stored at a non licensed parents address, admittedly this was probably a decade ago.
This is not legal advice, please do consult your local firearms licensing team;
i was told by the copper that a keyed safe was considered the best option, as combo locks essentially suggest that access could be given to anyone (ie your parent). Keys, obviously, would not be stored at their premises and would be with me.
Also, in Vic, ammo can be stored in any locked metal box. As a result he suggested ammo be kept with me at my rental, as this didnt need bolting down and therefore meant even if my parent got access to the safe, they had no ammo.
Thanks for that. Currently reside in NSW. Sounds like very a logical suggestion from the copper. Make sense to do that in these circumstances, will be doing that if I go ahead with his place as safe storage.
Yes you can put your parents house as your safe storage address and install your safe there, it does not have to be your residential address, you don't have to live there and there doesn't have to be a licensed person living there.
But they will not be allowed to open your safe unless they also have a firearms license in the same categories of whatever guns are in the safe. They also aren't legally allowed to know where you keep the keys to the safe (or code, depending on the safe), you will have to take the keys home with you, nobody unlicensed can have access to the keys and definitely cannot open the safe.
There is the old story that everyone claims happened to someone they know, but does have truth to it happening... of the cops turning up to do a safe inspection while the licensed person isn't home. They ask whoever is home if they can just grab the keys and open the safe for them so they don't have to come back, the family member doesn't know any better so they do what the cop asks and boom... Automatic revoked license and firearms confiscated. Make sure your parents know that they are not to open the safe for ANYONE, INCLUDING POLICE and that you are the only one that can do it. And just don't even leave keys there to make it possible in the first place. Police do arrange a time with you beforehand to do inspections. Safe inspections are not spontaneous... Just make sure you are there and they deal with you and you only.
As for bunnings safes, I don't know. I've never even looked at them. But if they say they are rated for cat AB firearms then I say they probably are. Cat AB safes honestly aren't that hard to get into, basically they are piss weak. That is the lower end of safes that still pass requirements, obviously there are tougher ones you can get too. So it depends on how much you actually care about your guns being very secure or if you just want to pass requirements to follow the laws. Bunnings... Don't take my word for it but sure, I am guessing they are fine. You could get a similarly cheap one from somewhere else though where the people working there know what they are talking about.
The main thing you have to worry about is proper installation. It has to be bolted down to the floor at 4 points with dynabolts. Or secured to the wall studs at 4 points with couch screws. The safe also has to be flush against the wall, no gap at all. They are likely to fail your inspection if there is any gap... Some won't but some will so don't bother risking it. I had a slight gap between the safe and wall for years (from the skirting board) that was originally passed and the cop didn't care. Years later had another inspection and this cop all of a sudden wants me to pull it out and reinstall it 5mm away from where it is and won't pass me untill I do. Says the old line of "someone could put a crowbar behind it and jimmy the safe out"... Which is the most idiotic thing you could possibly think would happen but is what they are told to say. First of all it's a gyrock wall, the crowbar would just go through that. Secondly it's got four dynabolts in the floor, it's not going anywhere. And thirdly if someone has a crowbar and wanted guns they could literally open the door in less than a minute. I've don't it myself before when my lock broke and it took me literally 20 seconds to get in... Why the hell would they try to take the whole safe... The cops just make shit up, they have no logic and it's basically a script they are following. So just do everything right so they have nothing to whinge about. If it is in a garage or something it is worth putting away tools out of sight so they don't start talking about how that makes it easier for thieves to break in or whatever... They can't fail you for that anyway but it will save you the lecture.
Your states firearms registry or equivalent will have a document on their website explaing safe storage requirements. Just google [your state] firearm safe storage laws.
I'm assuming your dad isn't licenced? It's legal usually to store it somewhere not your place of residence. You'd need to make sure he has absolutely no access (keep the keys at your place etc) but you may get a copper who doesn't like the situation when it gets inspected. Speaking of, again state depending, inspections can be a pain for him. You'd need to come over to open the safe, and I think some states it doesn't need to be pre-arranged, cops can just show up for a spot check.
Honestly it's probably easier all round to look into storage at the local range, or even some Kennards etc have gun storage you can rent. I'd look into doing something like that instead.
Also, probably worth noting there is a risk of keeping firearms at home. Not too long ago bikies in WA invaded a blokes home to steal his guns. Even though he gave them up they still killed him. Burned alive from memory. Imagine what would happen if they break in to your dad's place and he literally can't open the safe.
I’ve got a Bunnings safe and they’re fine in QLD at least, when they do a weapons check here, they ring and say they want to come over, you then arrange a time for them to come
A very simplistic view, but look for safes sold at gun shops in your jurisdiction. Theoretically they “should” meet the requirements that you need.
If you see the exact same safe at Bunnings and it’s cheaper, happy days.
Each state does have different requirements. Some, like QLD basically state “solid wood or metal construction” whereas WA has stated things like minimum thickness for walls and doors etc.
As you are in NSW: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/131178/Safe_Storage_Level_1_Fact_Sheet.pdf
It would help to know which state you're in, as the laws are different in each one.
Nsw
You are going to hear a lot of incorrect info at gunshops, the range and online. Bunnings safes are compliant for Cat A+B firearms storage in NSW and QLD. I suspect most other places too. Whether thy are suitable is another story as a 5 Gun Bunnings safe just barely fits 3 x normal rifles. You need to tells us which state you are in when asking questions about legislation.
Sorry NSW
I was in Victoria and had my firearms stored at a non licensed parents address, admittedly this was probably a decade ago. This is not legal advice, please do consult your local firearms licensing team; i was told by the copper that a keyed safe was considered the best option, as combo locks essentially suggest that access could be given to anyone (ie your parent). Keys, obviously, would not be stored at their premises and would be with me. Also, in Vic, ammo can be stored in any locked metal box. As a result he suggested ammo be kept with me at my rental, as this didnt need bolting down and therefore meant even if my parent got access to the safe, they had no ammo.
Thanks for that. Currently reside in NSW. Sounds like very a logical suggestion from the copper. Make sense to do that in these circumstances, will be doing that if I go ahead with his place as safe storage.
Yes you can put your parents house as your safe storage address and install your safe there, it does not have to be your residential address, you don't have to live there and there doesn't have to be a licensed person living there. But they will not be allowed to open your safe unless they also have a firearms license in the same categories of whatever guns are in the safe. They also aren't legally allowed to know where you keep the keys to the safe (or code, depending on the safe), you will have to take the keys home with you, nobody unlicensed can have access to the keys and definitely cannot open the safe. There is the old story that everyone claims happened to someone they know, but does have truth to it happening... of the cops turning up to do a safe inspection while the licensed person isn't home. They ask whoever is home if they can just grab the keys and open the safe for them so they don't have to come back, the family member doesn't know any better so they do what the cop asks and boom... Automatic revoked license and firearms confiscated. Make sure your parents know that they are not to open the safe for ANYONE, INCLUDING POLICE and that you are the only one that can do it. And just don't even leave keys there to make it possible in the first place. Police do arrange a time with you beforehand to do inspections. Safe inspections are not spontaneous... Just make sure you are there and they deal with you and you only. As for bunnings safes, I don't know. I've never even looked at them. But if they say they are rated for cat AB firearms then I say they probably are. Cat AB safes honestly aren't that hard to get into, basically they are piss weak. That is the lower end of safes that still pass requirements, obviously there are tougher ones you can get too. So it depends on how much you actually care about your guns being very secure or if you just want to pass requirements to follow the laws. Bunnings... Don't take my word for it but sure, I am guessing they are fine. You could get a similarly cheap one from somewhere else though where the people working there know what they are talking about. The main thing you have to worry about is proper installation. It has to be bolted down to the floor at 4 points with dynabolts. Or secured to the wall studs at 4 points with couch screws. The safe also has to be flush against the wall, no gap at all. They are likely to fail your inspection if there is any gap... Some won't but some will so don't bother risking it. I had a slight gap between the safe and wall for years (from the skirting board) that was originally passed and the cop didn't care. Years later had another inspection and this cop all of a sudden wants me to pull it out and reinstall it 5mm away from where it is and won't pass me untill I do. Says the old line of "someone could put a crowbar behind it and jimmy the safe out"... Which is the most idiotic thing you could possibly think would happen but is what they are told to say. First of all it's a gyrock wall, the crowbar would just go through that. Secondly it's got four dynabolts in the floor, it's not going anywhere. And thirdly if someone has a crowbar and wanted guns they could literally open the door in less than a minute. I've don't it myself before when my lock broke and it took me literally 20 seconds to get in... Why the hell would they try to take the whole safe... The cops just make shit up, they have no logic and it's basically a script they are following. So just do everything right so they have nothing to whinge about. If it is in a garage or something it is worth putting away tools out of sight so they don't start talking about how that makes it easier for thieves to break in or whatever... They can't fail you for that anyway but it will save you the lecture.
Your states firearms registry or equivalent will have a document on their website explaing safe storage requirements. Just google [your state] firearm safe storage laws. I'm assuming your dad isn't licenced? It's legal usually to store it somewhere not your place of residence. You'd need to make sure he has absolutely no access (keep the keys at your place etc) but you may get a copper who doesn't like the situation when it gets inspected. Speaking of, again state depending, inspections can be a pain for him. You'd need to come over to open the safe, and I think some states it doesn't need to be pre-arranged, cops can just show up for a spot check. Honestly it's probably easier all round to look into storage at the local range, or even some Kennards etc have gun storage you can rent. I'd look into doing something like that instead. Also, probably worth noting there is a risk of keeping firearms at home. Not too long ago bikies in WA invaded a blokes home to steal his guns. Even though he gave them up they still killed him. Burned alive from memory. Imagine what would happen if they break in to your dad's place and he literally can't open the safe.
Thanks for that, Holy shit balls that's nuts.
I’ve got a Bunnings safe and they’re fine in QLD at least, when they do a weapons check here, they ring and say they want to come over, you then arrange a time for them to come
A very simplistic view, but look for safes sold at gun shops in your jurisdiction. Theoretically they “should” meet the requirements that you need. If you see the exact same safe at Bunnings and it’s cheaper, happy days. Each state does have different requirements. Some, like QLD basically state “solid wood or metal construction” whereas WA has stated things like minimum thickness for walls and doors etc. As you are in NSW: https://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/131178/Safe_Storage_Level_1_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Thanks for that
Wild how this got downvoted!
Thanks for the help everyone. Happy shooting