Well it is a little late in the game to do anything about this now but I may have a problem.

I am flying out of New York to Australia on August 6th. I arrive in Cairns on August 8th.

I am spending a week in Cairns with my wife and 2 kids then I am hunting with 2 friends and Matt Graham from Aug 16th to Aug 24.


I just noticed that the card that the Northern Territory Police sent is issued on Aug 11th to Aug 27th. I think I know what happened, my two friends are not arriving till later and we got the same permit dates when all the permits were processed together.

WILL I HAVE BIG PROBLEMS WHEN I SHOW UP AT THE AIRPORT ON AUG 8TH WITH 2 RIFLES IN MY TUFF PAK???

I sent an e mail to Matt and to the police officer in the NT that issued the permit. I am hoping that the permit (card drivers license looking thing) just needs to cover the dates that I am actually hunting. The paperwork that came with the card that allows me to actually import the firearms, (form B 709A) has no valid dates on it.

Any info anyone give give is much appreciated.

Honkey, I hunted with Matt in June and My Firearms permit card covered the dates I was in Australia and not just in the field hunting. My guess is the dates will need to be changed on the permit to cover your whole time in AU.

Honkey

You are landing in Queensland, not Northern Territory.

The B709A allows you to enter the country with them, I am just not sure that it will matter / what the exact laws are in Qld.

I have a feeling it won't matter because the B709 is valid.

I wouldn't say anything about the dates if you can't get them changed.

Thanks for the info.

I am making some calls and hoping for the best!

Jamie

Honkey

What I don't know is do you need the NT Firearms permit to enter Qld with the firearms ?

To enter Aus with them, you need the B709A.


Do you know if you have to show the NT Permit on arrival in Qld ?

I don't know either???

I needed both the B709A and the NT firearms licence to get my guns in when I landed in Sydney. I only had a copy of the licence but Matt's wife emailed customs an original PDF of it while I was waiting for my connecting flight and they excepted that.

The customs people were the most helpful group, very nice people.

Problem solved.

The NT police fixed the dates and sent me the scanned corrected documents.

I have to say I am very impressed with the service I have received from Australian officials. If this had been CBP ( US Customs and Border Protection) you would have been shit out of luck.

Agree.

Australian Customs are excellent, they know it is all a PITA and try to help it along while staying within the boundaries of the law / regulations.

Police are normally very good in each state as well.

Just saw this. Glad it's sorted Honkey.

Looks like I will see you in camp

Cheers,
Mark.

Honkey, I have to say I had a similar experience to yours in Darwin last year. I was simply flabbergasted at the level of customer service.

I walked to the customs office and got the forms required to leave and the gentleman (Liam Nelson if memory serves) showed me how to fill them out. I went back to my hotel and did so. As I was walking back Mr Nelson was walking down the opposite side of a busy street and called out asking if I was enroute to see him. I said yes and he crossed 4 lanes of traffic and verified my paperwork right there despite having been headed to lunch.

When I explained my dilemma of returning to catch my flight late at night after the office would be closed (and so unable to pick up the approved export papers) he said no problem, he'd take them to the airport to be waiting for me. He wished me the best of luck on my hunt.

Contrast this with the surly attitude of the TSA who seem to always be looking for a way to flex their muscles and threaten to make you miss your flight!

I also had some concerns regarding laws I'd read requiring special permits for firearms over .500. A kindly officer in the Sydney police firearms dept explained that, yes the law did say that, but that sporting arms weren't the intended target. He emailed a letter to that effect to show to customs if there were any difficulties along with his contact info so he could speak directly if there were questions on arrival. Again amazing hospitality and radically different from people here who pride themselves on finding technicalities to wield against you.

Have a great time and please tell us about it on your return.

Bob

quote:

Originally posted by Mark R:
Just saw this. Glad it's sorted Honkey.

Looks like I will see you in camp

Cheers,
Mark.

I can't wait!

Sorry mate, I was out in the bush. Pleased they got you sorted out! Have fun, sorry i won't be there at that camp but the guys will take good care of you.

Oh... Customs inbound are really only concerned with the b709. See if you can get the export doc's when you go through customs.