For decades, states like Queensland and Western Australia have treated replica guns in Australia with sensible legislation—other states sadly less so.

Replicas are fun to collect, and luckily for collectors in the right state, QLD and WA have been recognising them as non-lethal items that don't require a firearms licence. However, in contrast, several other states regulate these harmless replicas as if they were some form of deadly item or even an actual firearm.

South Australia’s legislation acknowledges that imitation guns which cannot be readily converted to fire do not require regulation. Unfortunately, ambiguity in how these laws are interpreted can still create confusion and inconsistency in enforcement. Victoria have what's called a 'Governor In Council' / GIC exemption that allows people that belong to collector / historical clubs and bodies, and various other lawful reasons, to have them without licence.

A replica or imitation firearm—particularly those manufactured by trusted suppliers like Denix—was never a real gun. These items are made from lower-strength zinc-alloy metal and cannot accept, let alone fire, any form of ammunition. They are designed as safe alternatives for collectors, museums, man-cave displays, and use in film and television productions.

So, why all the fuss?

Yes, a replica can be misused to intimidate someone—but so can a kitchen knife, baseball bat, or even a golf club. The key difference? A Denix replica cannot actually cause harm. States like QLD and WA already have laws in place to deal with misuse of imitation firearms for intimidation or public alarm, which is both reasonable and sufficient.

For genuine collectors and enthusiasts, being forced to treat a non-functional, zinc-alloy wall-hanger as if it were a real firearm is, in our view, excessive and unnecessary. Yet this is exactly the case in many Australian states.

Queensland and Western Australia continue to take what we believe is a balanced and practical approach. However, collectors need to remain vigilant and ready to oppose any knee-jerk efforts to over-regulate what are, in reality, harmless and inert collectables.

We remain hopeful that South Australia will one day bring clearer interpretation and enforcement in line with the spirit of their own legislation: that imitation firearms which cannot be readily converted to function should not require regulation.

At the end of the day ownership of a replica gun in Australia comes with the responsibility to use and display it sensibly and with reasonable excuse as a legitimate collector or enthusiast regardless of where you live.