Intent

This procedure outlines the requirements for the approval, acquisition, storage, issue and servicing of James Cook University (JCU) owned Weapons.

Scope

This procedure applies to all staff, students, volunteers, adjuncts and contractors of JCU and is to be read in conjunction with the Weapons Policy.

Definitions                                                                  

Defined terms in the Weapons Policy have the same meaning in this Procedure.

Procedure

University owned Weapons may only be used by Approved Users and only for work-related purposes.

Once a Weapon has been acquired by the University, the requirements as outlined in this Procedure and the Weapons Policy must be adhered to with respect to that Weapon.

Deans of Colleges must advise the relevant University Licence Holder immediately upon receipt by the College of any Weapon that has been purchased or acquired by means other than set out in this Procedure.

1.         Approved Users

1.1 An intending user of University owned Weapons must apply in writing to be an Approved User through their respective College Dean or Director.

1.2 If the College Dean or Director accepts the application, the College Dean or Director will forward the application with details, comments and recommendations to the University Licence Holder for assessment of legislative compliance.

1.3 If the University Licence Holder is satisfied that the applicant meets all legislative requirements (including licencing requirements), the College Dean or Director will grant the applicant Approved User status.

1.4 When travelling interstate, overseas or locally with firearms, Approved Users are to include a copy of their firearms licence in their job safety analysis (JSA) /trip approval documents.

2.         Acquisition and Use of Weapons

Acquisition of Weapons by the University must comply with clause 5 of FMPM 711 Procurement Procedures.

Acquisition and Use of Weapons

2.1       The University must not acquire a Weapon without the prior written approval of a University Licence     Holder.

2.2       Applications for the acquisition of Weapons by the University must be submitted in writing by the relevant Dean of College or Director, to a University Licence Holder indicating:

a) that the relevant Dean of College or Director approves the request for acquisition;

b) the type of Weapon required;

c) the purpose for which it is to be used including standard operating procedures specific for that particular Weapon detailing:

• Where it will be used (i.e. interstate, overseas or locally)
• How it is to be used
• Risks involved with its use and how those risks will be mitigated
• Any other approvals that may be required for its use (e.g. Animal ethics and State permits)

d) how much the Weapon will cost; and

e) title and code of the account to be charged.

2.3        Subject to clause 2.4 below, if a University Licence Holder approves the acquisition of a Weapon, the University Licence Holder will facilitate the acquisition of the Weapon.

2.4        (a) If a Permit to Acquire the Weapon is required by law to be obtained before the University may acquire a Weapon, the University Licence Holder who approves the acquisition will make an online application for a Permit to Acquire the Weapon (Queensland Police Website).

(b) When the Permit to Acquire a Weapon is issued, the University Licence Holder will facilitate the acquisition of the Weapon.

Interstate and Overseas Use of Weapons

2.5        University Licence Holders must ensure they are aware of conditions for interstate or overseas use of Weapons and that they communicate those conditions to an Approved User before issuing a Weapon to an Approved User for use interstate or overseas.

2.6        Storage and transport arrangements for University owned Weapons used interstate or overseas will be dependent on the relevant Weapons legislation/regulations for that state or country and must be complied with by the relevant Approved User.  

2.7        Note that gas powered dart guns and Paxarms are subject to Weapons legislation. Darts must be sourced from a commercial qualified supplier.

3.         Secure Storage of Weapons

3.1        The University Licence Holder of the relevant campus/site is responsible for:

a) Securely storing University owned Weapons with bolts extracted (where possible) or secured by way of trigger lock, under lock and key in compliance with the Weapons Act (Qld) 1990; and

b) storing bolts and ammunition separately under lock and key.

4.         Transport of Weapons

4.1        Transport of University owned Weapons by Approved Users must be carried out in accordance with the requirements agreed to in the approved application to acquire and use a Weapon, and in accordance with the relevant State, Territory or Commonwealth legislation/regulations when in Australia (including the Weapons Act (Qld) 1990 when in Queensland) and the relevant legislation/regulations when overseas.

4.2        If travelling interstate or overseas by airline with a University owned Weapon, the Approved User must adhere to the requirements of the relevant airline for carrying that Weapon and associated ammunition.

5.         Issue and Return of Weapons

5.1        University owned Weapons, bolts and ammunition will only be issued by the University Licence Holder of the relevant campus/site to Approved Users whose names appear in the Register of Approved Users, and must be signed for by the Approved User on each occasion.

5.2        Any time a University owned Weapon is removed from secure storage its removal must be recorded by the relevant University Licence Holder in accordance with the requirements of the legislation listed in the related documents and legislation section located at the end of this Procedure.

5.3        All University owned Weapons must be returned to secure storage after use and not used again without the re-approval of the relevant University Licence Holder.

6.         Servicing and Repair of Weapons

6.1        The University Licence Holders are responsible for the interim servicing of University owned Weapons stored at their campus/site. They will service Weapons in accordance with the servicing instructions supplied by the weapons manufacturer for the individual Weapon.

6.2        A University owned Weapon service must be carried out after each use of the Weapon prior to it being returned to secure storage.

6.3        Any repairs or maintenance to University owned Weapons are only to be carried out by a licensed armourer or in the case of gas powered dart guns, a person qualified to do so.

6.4        In the case of gas powered dart guns, the person qualified to service the Weapon shall be noted in the Register of University owned Weapons.

7.         Inspections and Spot Checking

7.1        The Manager, Security will arrange for University owned Weapons to be inspected annually by a licensed armourer or registered firearms dealer. A record of the annual inspection of each University owned Weapon will be maintained by the Manager, Security.

7.2        The Manager, Security will conduct ad hoc spot checks throughout the year of the University owned Weapons, storage provisions and Register of University Owned Weapons to ensure compliance with this procedure, the Weapons Policy and the relevant legislation.

8.         Register of University Owned Weapons and Approved Users

8.1        The University Licence Holder for each campus/site will maintain a Register of University Owned Weapons and Approved Users for University owned Weapons stored at that campus/site.

8.2        Approved Users will be added to the Register of University Owned Weapons and Approved Users by the University Licence Holder immediately upon their approval as Approved Users.

8.3        The JCU Manager, Security will maintain a master Register of University Owned Weapons and Approved Users.

Contact details

JCU Security – 07 4781 4363

Campus Security Contact Details: 07 47814363 – 07 47816000 (24 hours 7 days a week)

Related policy instruments

Weapons Policy

FMPM 711 Procurement Procedures

Related documents and legislation

Weapons Act (Qld) 1990

Weapons Regulation (Qld) 1996

Weapons Categories Regulation (Qld) 1997

Permit to Acquire a Weapon

Administration

NOTE: Printed copies of this policy are uncontrolled, and currency can only be assured at the time of printing.

Approval Details

Revision History

NOTE: A minor amendment will not result in a change of the next major review date.

[Approval date - the date the approval authority approved the establishment, minor or major amendment or disestablishment]

[Implementation Date - the date the policy was published in the Policy Library and is the date the policy takes effect]