Gun Buy Back Scheme - The Australian National Audit Office

The surrender process
3 90 The firearms surrender process used in the ACT is outlined at
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AFP internal audit work
3 91 In mid-1996 the Commonwealth Ombudsman received an
anonymous allegation regarding resale of a weapon surrendered
under the buy-back scheme. The Ombudsman asked the AFP to
investigate the allegation. The AFP’s Internal Security and Audit
Team (AFP internal audit) reviewed the management of the
surrender process by the Weapons Registry with a view to
assessing opportunities for ‘recycling’ of surrendered weapons.
They found a number of minor administrative shortcomings but no
significant flaws in the AFP’s management of the surrender
process, although they were able to suggest some improvements
in procedures.
ANAO findings
3 92 The ANAO reviewed the AFP internal audit work, and carried out a
further review of surrender and destruction procedures. As well,
the ANAO tested samples of surrender transactions for compliance
with procedures. Testing included a review of all surrenders up
until the time of the audit for adequate evidence of either:
• destruction of the weapon; or
• retention, as authorised by the ACT Attorney-General, for AFP
forensic or training purposes.
3 93 During the ANAO audit, AFP internal audit provided its formal
report to the Registrar of Firearms. This took place about eight
months after the completion of the internal audit fieldwork. AFP
internal audit told the ANAO that relevant issues and
recommendations had been advised orally to the Registrar of
Firearms at the time of the audit between July and September
1996.
3 94 The ANAO found that six of the fourteen improvements suggested
by the AFP internal audit had been implemented while others were
still outstanding. AFP internal audit advised that no formal followup
action had been initiated by them because of the delay in
issuing a formal report.
The Gun Buy-Back Scheme 63