Guys,
Just a "heads-up" that due to "Universal Postal Agreements", Australia Post will no longer be handling "items of weaponry including components" whether you have a B709A or not. Stuff currently in transit will be allowed through (or not...) at the discretion of Customs until the end of January ... after which it all stops. At this point optics will also be caught up in this. Got off the phone with Australia Post this morning.
Long live the importers monopoly!
Cheers...
Con
PS: Should have added this is for stuff from OS (definately USA ... not sure about elsewhere) and NOT domestic ... yet??

Another nail in the coffin for gun owners! Does this mean we will still be able to get stuff through a courier company or anywhere else?

Had been told about this.
Could find nothing about it on Aust Post web site though.

Certainly will make bits more expensive to get from os

Our local Post Office told me that we have about a week to go until they close all import of firearms related stuff coming through.

And the Dept is dead serious.

I have done the following on this refusal by Australia Post to accept firearms

1 Complained to Australia Post management

2 Informed the SSAA

3 Informed my local Federal member

4 US embassy- commercial division. Who stated it may be against the Free Trade Agreement and have assigned a researcher on to it.

5 Contacted the ACCC on "restriction of trade" and creating a monopoly for the freight forwarders

I hope some of the above actions will work time will tell.

Steve

so my 1000 303 projectiles coming on the slow boat from the USofA are not going to be let in even thought I ordered them in November 2005 and I have a B709 sitting in front of me?
what gives Australia Post the right to decide what I can and can't have LSB issued me a permit so what the hell gives????????????

I suppose this includes dies as well ?? so how do we send our scopes back to leupold for repair, gee there fuckin assholes, you do the right fuckin thing and get punsished all the time, while the streets are crawling with fuckwits whom manage to get hand guns or any other bloody thing they want under the radar.

RLI is on the right track - rather than just complain, we all need to act and make as much noise as possible.

Apparently, Australia Post has already been inundated with complaints about this and we need to keep the pressure on the bastards.

The Shooter's Party and the SSAA are apparently looking at the legal aspects - restriction of trade and denial of citizen's rights, etc, but we can all make our voices heard as well.

quote:

Originally posted by smlekid:
so my 1000 303 projectiles coming on the slow boat from the USofA are not going to be let in even thought I ordered them in November 2005 and I have a B709 sitting in front of me?
what gives Australia Post the right to decide what I can and can't have LSB issued me a permit so what the hell gives????????????

Too bloody right.

Send back or destroy the goods!

Without any adequate notice! They can't just change the rules when they feel like it. Or if they can I hope they are ready for compensation claims. If the goods are legally imported (ie proper import permits have been obtained) and the goods are not without a dangerous classification (eg explosives) surely there is a legal issue with their policy?

Some distributors label parts, dies etc as tools and machine parts already. Scopes as optical instruments.

GUYS
this is a big one we really need to pull together on this
i have e mailed AUST POST and the ACCC...will be intresting to see what respone i get
tomorrow im going to see my local member
JUST WONDERING, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS BEHIND THE SCENES
regards daniel

quote:

Originally posted by M 98:
GUYS
this is a big one we really need to pull together on this
i have e mailed AUST POST and the ACCC...will be intresting to see what respone i get
tomorrow im going to see my local member
JUST WONDERING, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERMENT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS BEHIND THE SCENES
regards daniel

It would be un-beleivable if the fed gov didn't have anything to do with it.................................Aussie Post is Gov Owned is it not ??

quote:

It would be un-beleivable if the fed gov didn't have anything to do with it.................................Aussie Post is Gov Owned is it not ??

Yes, I smell a rat behind this disgusting situation......a big rat called John Winston Howard!

BB - I thoroughly concur!!
This has the smell of Little Johnny all over it!! Good old flak jacket just hates firearms in private hands.
APB

quote:

Originally posted by BwanaBob:

quote:

It would be un-beleivable if the fed gov didn't have anything to do with it.................................Aussie Post is Gov Owned is it not ??

Yes, I smell a rat behind this disgusting situation......a big rat called John Winston Howard!

Unfortunately BB, I think you may be right on this one. This one seems to have Jackboot Johnnies finger prints all over it.
But since he doesn't have anyone to answer to, or opposition worthy of the name, I expect he thinks he can do anything he wants.

Cheers, Dave.

MotherF#$KER! Really handy I wonder if reams, dies, stocks, arrows, sights, ammo belts etc will be included as they're all "components". I don't consider my firearms to be weaponary anyway, I have no intention of using them as a 'weapon'

ie: *An instrument of offensive of defensive combat; something to fight with; anything used, or designed to be used, in destroying, defeating, or injuring an enemy, as a gun, a sword, etc*

My firearms are sporting equipment not weapons. My issued firearm, an Austyer is a weapon but not my 303 my 44-40 or my 12gauge.

Damn it I serve this country I defend our rights and priviledges. Why does it seem like Australia is turning Commie?

quote:

Our Vision

Australia Post is committed to providing high-quality mail and parcel services to all Australians.

Our enthusiastic, professional people will build a progressive commercial corporation through a commitment to high levels of customer satisfaction.

Our Mission

We will meet our customers’ changing needs by providing:


innovative and easy-to-use products and services;
friendly service by knowledgeable staff;
consistent on-time delivery;
value for money; and
modern, efficient networks.

We will build our people’s commitment to these goals by:

promoting job satisfaction;
encouraging participation in the success of the business;
recognising outstanding service to customers; and
rewarding outstanding performance.


As a progressive commercial corporation, Australia Post will make the best use of its assets and earn profits so that it can sustain and develop its business.

Earn profits !!!! don't sound like a government enterprise.

Straight off their website; What a Crock Of Shite

I just read that Qantas now will not accept firearms unless owner travels on same flight. I believe Australia will be isolated from the rest of the world in regard to firearms and in time freight forwarders and couriers will stop accepting firearms even from big importers like Beretta, Remington etc part of the government 5 year plan on banning all firearms

1996- Gun Buyback

2002 HandGun Buyback

2006- Freight Restrictions

2010-Confiscation of all firearms????????

While posting this reply the Commonwealth Ombudsman rang and said Australia Post can do what they did and he basically said they are a law unto themselves !!!!!!! and ACCC said they can do nothing and I have still to hear back from Federal Member, DFAT, but the US embassy has said it appears to be against FTA and will give me a written reply when they finish the research on this issue, and now Winchester has gone belly up! what else is going to happen?

Steve

Maybe Australia Post is stopping accepting firearms for postal as they seem to loose so many to theft?

By their own crooked employees.

While I suspect that the blame lies with the 'Head Rat' (JWH), I also know that several of the larger Australia firearms importers (I won't name names but will say that I do mean a large importer) have been aggitating for some time to have the gunparts mail-order business shut down in Australia. They see it as eating too much into their potential business.

What they don't realise, or refuse to accept, is that many of us buy direct from OS because we get sick of waiting months for something that we can get in weeks, or even days if we order direct - Aussie businesses have never been great at customer service and could learn a lot from our US friends. And often what we order they won't stock anyway!

But I am now wondering if their background manoeuvrings aren't, at least, partly to blame for what has happened.

In any event, not only do I see a need for us to shout, long and loud, about the injustice of what Australia Post (ha, maybe they should be called Nazi Germany Post, or Saddam Hussein Post - they don't deserve the title 'Australia'!) is doing, but I wonder if we can't find an alternative means of getting stuff in from the states.

Maybe, one solution, is for groups of shooters to band together and make their orders together and get them sent out in an airline container, or something similar? Just a thought.

quote:

Originally posted by BwanaBob:
Aussie businesses have never been great at customer service and could learn a lot from our US friends. And often what we order they won't stock anyway!

And sometimes when you try to order through them:
* they say it is too much bother;
* they say it is not longer available or made, but it can still be got from the USA or direct from the maker;
* as you said it takes 12 months to arrive with a huge mark-up.

Cannot help thinking this is part of a grand scheme - culminating eventually in the total ban of firearms?

Who and why are they driving this? Australia Post will carry much more "dangerous goods" than a rifle/ Timmney trigger or Tasco Scope.

Whoever is responsible for this is just slowly chipping away at the edges - to see how far they can get before the masses start to complain. And the masses (us) slowly get used to the new restrictions and accept more & more until its eventually too late to reverse the situation.

BwanaBob,
Would I be totally out if I "guessed" that the importers your refering too advertise in the SSAA's journal? Puts the SSAA in a slightly different light if they do...
Cheers...
Con

Forgot to add ...
The solution to this fiasco is actually pretty simple, but I'd rather not have it implemented.
You have your import permit, Australian Customs knows of it, once item is cleared you personally pick-up OR an internal domestic courier is used to forward the goods to you.
Cheers...
Con

The British Post Office tried a similar thing a few months ago...Coincidence or not I wonder?

We were lucky in that lobbying by the various shooting organisations and by the industry to the postal regulator got the ban over turned..

Regards,

Pete

I usually pick up at Customs House at the airport Melbourne but say a firearm from the US comes in it goes straight to the International mail centre who then forward it to Customs but at this point AP will not give to Customs but return to sender or be destroyed!!!!!!!! Australia Post say firearms are "Dangerous and a security threat" but they will happily return to sender this "Dangerous" article that poses a "security threat"! I think the big gun importers with shrinking profit margins would have a bit to do with it plus a anti gun Federal government

RLI
Total ban is due by 2020
Australia signed back in the late 80's early 90's an agreement to ban private ownership of firearms by 2020, remember hearing this from a QLD pro gun poli in early 90's forget his name now.

416SW,
You are right it is a plan over time to disarm us but what do you do? I recieved a email from DFAT the dept. who run the US Free Trade Agreement and it said Australia Post is outside the FTA and can do this! so the latest is this

ACCC- can not help

Commonwealth Ombudsman - can not help

Dept. Foreign Affairs and Trade -Advise Australia Post is outside FTA!!!!!!!!!!!

Federal Member- No info yet

US Embassy- still researching

I will inform everyone when I hear more


Steve

The original proposals to the UN and the push for disarmament including civilian sporting arms disarmament came from the Japanese.

I wonder if an angle saying the Japanese are trying to disarm Australia would have any impact? I think it would without doubt.

And that the Australian government is selling out Australia's independent future to the Japanese. I think "kow towing" is the correct term.

Maybe a protest outside Japanese emabassies, consulates, companies. A way to get public attention to a cause people would support.

Fairness does not always need to be an objective, the result is what matters.

If anyone thinks the Japanese will remain "pacifists" for much longer they are fools.

quote:

Total ban is due by 2020
Australia signed back in the late 80's early 90's an agreement to ban private ownership of firearms by 2020, ....

Over my dead body.

quote:

Originally posted by Con:
BwanaBob,
Would I be totally out if I "guessed" that the importers your refering too advertise in the SSAA's journal? Puts the SSAA in a slightly different light if they do...
Cheers...
Con

Con,

Yes they do advertise in the journal, but I don't think that the SSAA are aware of what I mentioned - in fact, I would be very surprised if they were.

So don't judge the SSAA by the actions of one of their advertisers.

If you guys send me all of your scopes for repairs I can get them repaired, then you guys fly me down under and then I can hand deliver them to each of you. You guys might have to take me kangaroo hunting, or I thought it could be fun to shoot those wild donkeys at long range.

Good luck sorting it out.

Con,

Many thanks for your post as it saved me dollars and probably much aggravation. Will buy you x beers if we ever meet.

At about 5.00am on Thursday, I rang Grafs in Missouri to buy some 7mm Dakota cases, and was told to ring back in 1.5 hours as the person who handled exports was at lunch. So I decided to check AR forums to fill in time, and was both wild and relieved when I saw your post. Naturally I did not ring back Grafs'.

I have since rang Oz Post and was told a similar story and offered no explanation as to why. They did mention that I could use a courier service.

Since then, have rung about 5 different couriers about bringing bullets from a custom bullet maker in Canada, and brass cases from the US, (none of which is available at local gunshops) and all said it was now against their policy.

Some couriers mentioned the new airline policy or regulations now made it impossible to airfreight firearms or their components. I mentioned that I was happy with sea freight, but the answer was still negative. One courier requested that I email him details of my prospective orders, so I will have to wait and see what eventuates there.

Also, it seems the SSAA doesn't seem too concerned, as I have checked their website on at least 3 occasions since your post and there is no mention of this important issue, and they do have a webpage for "Breaking News".

I like most others who have posted here, have no doubts that this has emanated from high up and almost certainly the very top.

I intend to contact the Government minister responsible and let him know how "pissed off" I am at the decision. However, I realise that it is virtually inevitable that the decision won't be reversed.

Now the challenge is to find someone who will bring in our components, and hopefully not at an exorbitant price. Brian.

brianw,
That the couriers wont carry firearm components is the Catch 22 in this situation ... interesting about the airlines , we may be shafted yet!
Rather than buying me a cold one, put the money into some stamps and write some letters. I've emailed my Federal member and the SSAA I've been assured have been informed on the matter. I'm less confident about what they're prepared to do, we'll see.
Remember mate they're not 7mmDakota cases, they're "put together wind chimes". Just add string and presto ... a wind chime! Call then "Native Dakota spirit calling chimes" and they'll be through Customs in a flash
Cheers...
Con

Con,

I love your innovative streak, and have suddenly fallen in love with "Dakota wind chimes".

Reminds me about 6 months ago, a US barrel manufacturer suggested a very innovative name for his products to help get through Customs. I never took up his offer as I was worried what might happen.

I will certainly write some letters, and will start with my Federal member, then the Minister for Communications. Obviously there is a fight ahead. Cheeers, Brian.

You must look up what you can bring in from outside the country - if you bring in guns will you be able to bring in how many if you bought them overseas? Ditto for parts and components. Is an importer's license particularly difficult to obtain? Even I can apply for that here in America though it would not permit me to be a gun dealer without a separate license.

Here's my devious suggestion: See who runs local islands in your area of the south Pacific. Establish an importing and distribution facility there. Maybe in New Guinea - under worst circumstances on the moslem side of the island (the natives are still a bit wild in both places.) There has to be a place which would permit importztion of a few larger shipments of goods which would be transhipped to other points such as Australia or which would be picked up personally. In fact you might set up a legitimate delivery service which could handle various imported goods and do the same thing for certain exports. It's worth a conspiratorial try.

Everyone should stop paying their bills at Aust Post. I beleive they make money from every transaction - hit 'em in the hip pocket by paying online or over the phone if possible.

I know Dakota export but only use freight Forwarders and the rifle I imported cost $850 freight plus GST!!!!! about 2 years ago, the problem now is even if a courier/freight forwarder accepts your firearm there is not many airlines that will take it. I will contact Qantas on monday and see if it is true they don't take firearms if so they should tell which airlines do.

Steve

How about a letter campaign...get as many gun owners as possible to post letters to non existant addresses with no stamp on them...make sure it has a non existant return address on it to, so you catch them both ways...