Owning G1 and MP05 Megatron in Victoria

[Ultra Mackness]

For a long time these figures have stood as sentinels without which no transformers collection is complete (IMO:)), however owning them legally in Victoria appears to by ridiculously complicated or simply a no-no. That said I would like to have them but like Gok would like to do so legally, I just don't know how, or even where to really get started. I've looked on the police Victoria website and after a few re-directions to gov websites it looks like I need to become a member of a gun club and compete regularly (only I don't particularly want to discharge real firearms!).

Does anyone know what I need to do in Victoria specifically, it seems to be different to NSW, SA etc.?

Also occured to me, what if I'd owned G1 Megs from back in the 80's. If itwas bought and paid for at kmart/target/toyworld etc. In a then legal transaction, when did it become illegal to keep this item? (I'm thinking of the 2 kids at my primary school lucky enough to have had him. Still envious:))

[Krayt]

Just looked around, and it turns out Victorian law changed on 01/07/2011...

All you need now is the cheif commissioners approval.

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=25560

details on changes

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?media_id=70080&status=active

[5FDP]

(I'm thinking of the 2 kids at my primary school lucky enough to have had him. Still envious:))

You didn't happen to go to St Luke's in Wantirna did you? One of those kids might have been me :p

[Ultra Mackness]

@Krayt: Thanks I'll check that out properly tonight

@5FDP: No I didn't, but bloody close - St. Leonards in Glen Waverley!

[iceburn]

Just looked around, and it turns out Victorian law changed on 01/07/2011...

All you need now is the cheif commissioners approval.

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=25560

details on changes

http://www.police.vic.gov.au/retrievemedia.asp?media_id=70080&status=active

does that mean you guys can form up a club like tiby's in order to get authorisation to have gun replicas

[Krayt]

I read it as even easier than that.....

1. a) A copy of a current membership card to a recognised Collector’s Organisation; or
b) Evidence that you are a bona-fide collector by attaching including a list and/or
photographs of the Prohibited Weapons you currently possess or propose to collect
to demonstrate;and
2. A dated and signed letter recording each prohibited weapon type you propose to
collect and detailing the theme of each type of weapon in your collection. Themes may
be of a commemorative, investment, historical or thematic nature, or of a particular
range or era. You should provide as much detail as possible (e.g. valuation
certificates, collector club endorsement etc) to demonstrate that your collection is/will
be of obvious and significant investment, commemorative, historical or thematic value.

So you say your a transformer collector, have all figures from 1984, and one of those is an imitation firearm. include a catalouge scan and you should be done.... likewise same for MP Megs

[iceburn]

beware.. haha, they might reject MP05 and come confiscate it :P

[Ultra Mackness]

I've just had a bit of a read Krayt and it does sound like it is that simple. No need for membership to a club, but need to provide evidence that you are a collector. This is sensational news for anyone in VIC who has been after these two. I'll have another read tonight, but I wonder what regs will need to be adhered to to import them from overseas. And a big thankyou for pointing me in the direction of this info!!

[1AZRAEL1]

beware.. haha, they might reject MP05 and come confiscate it :P

Just don't mention him, say you "want" to obtain him :p

[Prowl]

What are they gonna do put you in jail? Seriously any 1/2 decent brief could get you off with a fine. Look at how others are treated down here for possession of a real gun. It would be helpful if you are a minority as well.

Hell you can kick a old lady to death & you get a medal for it down here.

[blackie]

i <3 mexico

[Prowl]

I should probably clarify that I do not endorse breaking the law unless you feel the need to.

[Krayt]

I'm actually annoyed that i have heard NOTHING about these changes in the leadup to July 1st.... :mad:

[Megatran]

A segment on last night's ABC Victoria 7.30 current affairs program looked at illegal firearms (which encapsulates replica/imitation firearms) entering Australia via international post. I only saw tidbits of the segment but I think the angle of the story was that more and more criminals are using this method of obtaining illegal firearms overseas AND that Customs/Quarantine Inspectors are screening more parcels through the sorting facility.

[GoktimusPrime]

Keep in mind that Australian Customs is a federal body, and firearm laws (including replica firearms) fall under individual state/territory jurisdictions. Hence why, for example, owning Gunformers is completely unrestricted in WA, legal w/ a permit in NSW, and completely outlawed in other places. As a permit-holding NSW resident, if I attempted to import a Gunformer it can still be intercepted and seized by Australian Customs because my permit was issued in NSW. Customs would then notify me of the seizure, and it would be then up to me to present my permit to Customs for the toy to be released to me.

I don't know so much about Victorian laws, but that's how it would work in NSW AFAIK.

[Pig's_A_King]

do what i did to get a mp 05 megs... buy it off someone in w.a. and get them to post it to you... i received mine yesterday... He's freaking huge... and the bloody aust. gov considers him a replica? lol...

[Megatran]

Providing advice that is/may be illegal is not condoned on this forum. People carrying out such an activity is at their own personal risk.

[reillyd]

Legal in qld with a non replica firearms license too. That's how I got mine off of customs

[GoktimusPrime]

He's freaking huge... and the bloody aust. gov considers him a replica? lol...
It's because there are real life guns that are about the same size and approximate shape as MP Megatron. Sure, it's massively oversized for a Walther P38, but Joe or Jane Average doesn't necessarily know that! To a person who doesn't know any better, it looks like a gun. Especially if someone is threatening you with it and you're too busy being scared scrapless to closely examine the weapon for visual authenticity. ;) There's a lunatic in my neighbourhood who was once arrested for threatening someone with a cigarette lighter shaped like a gun. It was technically too small to be that make of pistol (as recognised by another neighbour whose father is a retired cop), but it was big enough to be held by an adult hand and the woman that he pointed it at believed at the time that it was a real gun.

[WeallscreamforStarscream]

Just do what a friend of mine did and order it from someone in Perth. i'm in NSW, did it regular post and no hassle in the end.

[Bidoofdude]

It's because there are real life guns that are about the same size and approximate shape as MP Megatron. Sure, it's massively oversized for a Walther P38, but Joe or Jane Average doesn't necessarily know that! To a person who doesn't know any better, it looks like a gun. Especially if someone is threatening you with it and you're too busy being scared scrapless to closely examine the weapon for visual authenticity. ;) There's a lunatic in my neighbourhood who was once arrested for threatening someone with a cigarette lighter shaped like a gun. It was technically too small to be that make of pistol (as recognised by another neighbour whose father is a retired cop), but it was big enough to be held by an adult hand and the woman that he pointed it at believed at the time that it was a real gun.

True. The size doesn't seem to matter, as some guns can be really small. What's so bad is that you can buy a cheap, much more authentic looking toy gun from the $2 store or newsagent and it'll be just fine.

[GoktimusPrime]

I don't think it's "just fine." AFAIK those stores are unlawfully selling those items and people who purchase and possess them risk legal charges if they're caught. That looney neighbour with the gun ciggie lighter most likely purchased it locally, but he was ultimately charged and arrested by police when he tried to threaten someone with it. I knew a teenager who was arrested by police for carrying a replica toy gun in public (it was either a water pistol or BB gun, but looked realistic).

It's because of people like this that we have laws either against or governing the possession of replica firearms in the first place. :(


Just do what a friend of mine did and order it from someone in Perth. i'm in NSW, did it regular post and no hassle in the end.
AFAIK that's still unlawful, and Customs do inspect state borders. Having the toy sent to a NSW resident either domestically or internationally carries the same inherent risk. However as a NSW resident, if your toy were intercepted and seized, they'd send you a notification letter giving you a period of time to contact Customs to arrange a time to present your Megatron Permit and have the toy released to you (otherwise the toy would be incinerated).

IMHO it'd be simpler and cheaper to just have the toy sent to NSW directly from Japan, because the cost of postage between NSW and WA is more expensive than between NSW and Japan! :eek: So effectively having the toy sent to NSW straight from Japan would be over 50% cheaper than sending it via WA. :o