The Minns Government’s new state gun laws “will end the Olympic and Paralympic sport of biathlon in Australia,” says the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC).
The .22-calibre rimfire rifles used in the Olympic sport have a straight-pull bolt action, and will therefore be caught up in the reclassification of a range of firearms under the new laws.
Australia’s biathlon teams are currently in Europe competing in International Biathlon Union events in the lead-up to the XXV Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games, being held in Milano-Cortina in less than two months.
“The proposed changes will leave them stranded,” the AOC says in a letter to Robert Borsak MLC of the Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party (SFF).
“They’ll immediately become unlicensed for their firearm and unable to compete on the international circuit or at the upcoming Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games.
“It is unclear how they are expected to travel with their firearm.”
The plight of the Australian athletes appears to be an unintended consequence of the laws, which were written in days after a captain’s call by Premier Minns without any stakeholder consultation.
“The proposed amendments to the Firearms Act 1996 (NSW) — as currently drafted in the Terrorism and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 — will end the Olympic and Paralympic sport of biathlon in Australia,” the AOC said.
Biathlon Australia wants specific amendments to the Bill, the primary one being to ensure straight-pull and level/button release biathlon firearms remain classified as Cat A.
Alternatively, the organisation has asked that the genuine reason of Sport/Target Shooting be a reason to own Cat C firearms, as existing biathlon rifles will become if the new laws are enacted.
The SFF confirmed it will move an amendment to this effect today in the Legislative Council debate.
Biathlon combines cross-country skiing and target shooting.
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