State of Victoria Sword Regulations Update
TCAA has received a letter from the Department of Justice, Victoria dated 3rd Feb 2006 asking for further details about TCAA and its members use of weapons “to enable a full assessment of your status as an exempt group”. TCAA will have to respond by 3rd March 2006.
As part of the requirement, TCAA is to inform its membership of the following Legislative Requirements:
That a 'Prohibited person' is not eligible to be included in any such exemption. ('Prohibited persons' include: prisoners serving time for an indictable offence, assault or an offence under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic); and persons under intervention orders, community service orders, supervision orders, etc.)
When not being used in accordance with the purpose
specified in the exemption order, swords must be stored safely and securely;
and the member must permit a member of the police force to inspect his or her
storage arrangements at any reasonable time.
“stored safely and securely” means:
(a) stored in a manner calculated to ensure that the sword: (i) is not readily
accessible to a person other that the person seeking to rely on the exemption;
(ii) is not available for possession, carriage or use by person who is not
themselves a holder of an approval issued by the Chief Commissioner of Police
or who does not fall within another class of exempt persons;
(b) when being transported between the usual place of storage of the sword and
places at which the sword is legitimately used, the purpose of which is the
subject of this exemption, stored in a manner calculated to ensure that the
sword is not readily accessible to a person other that the person seeking to
rely on the exemption and that the sword is concealed from plain sight during
any such transportation.
TCAA may have to provide “records” such that a member of the Victoria Police may be able to view them if needed.
Please note that the above will be declared to the Justice Department as informed to TCAA members.