New laser regulations

+
The Hon MichaelAtkinsonMP
09AGOtt23
Government
of SouthAustralia
Attorney-General
//
July,zoos
Ministerfor Justice
Ministerfor
MulticulturalAffairs
The Astronomical Sosietyof SouthAustralia
Cl- Mr Robert Jenkins
3 Theta Street
SALISBURY S.A. 5108
Ministerfor
Veterans',Affairs
1lth Floor
45 PirieStreet
Adelaide
SA5000
GPOBox464
Adelaide
SA5001
DX336
Tel 08 8207 1723
Fax08 82071736
gd.sa.
gov.au
eral@a
attorney-gen
Laser Pointers
that laserpointerswith an outputgreaterthan 1 milliwatt
Qn23 February,2009 I announced
would be banned.Regulationshave now been draftedto classifyhigh-poweredhand-held
laserpointerswith an emissionlevel greaterthan 1 milliwatt asprohibitedweapons.
The attached draft Summary Offences (DangerousArticles and Prohibited Weapons)
Variation Regulations2009 seekto vary the SummaryOffences(DangerousArticles and
Regulations2000sothat:
ProhibitedWeapons)
a laserpointeris declaredto be prohibitedweaponfor thepurposesof theSummary
Act 1953.
Offences
a laserpointeris definedasa hand-helddevicedesignedor adaptedto ernita laser
emissionlevel greaterthan 1 milliwatt.
beamwith an accessible
.
laserpointersfor a legitimatepurposearedeclared(in
who possess
astronomers
accordance
with sl5(2b)ft) of the Act) to be exernptpersonsfor the purposes.of
sl5(1e)of theAct.
I have also taken the opportunityto amendthe definition of a sharkdart in ScheduleI to
ensurethatWASP Knives.arecapfuredby the regulations.
Although it is likely that one of the exernptionsset out in the SummaryOffencesAct 1953
would cover astronomers(see attachedsummary of prohibited weapons offences and
in theSummary
exemptions),I havedecidedto includea specificexemptionfor astfonomers
that thereis no
2000
so
Regulations
Weapons)
Offeices(DangerousArticles and Prohibited
confusion.
andcomment.ln particular,
A copyof the draft regulationsis providedfor your consideration
as set out in clause6(2) of the
I wouiOlike commentson the exemptionsfor astronomers,
inutes\LtrASSAJenkinsLaserPointersDftRegs.doc
G:\AGPL\Correspondence\kntil\2009\m
- 2-
SummaryQffinces (DangerousArticles and Prohibited Weapons)Variation Regulations
2009.
I would be gratefulif you couldprovideyour commentswithin onemonthof the dateof this
letter.Any [uestionsibout the diaft regulationscanbe madedirectly to Ms Kellie Tilbrook,
to tilbrook.kellie@agd.sa.gov.au
LegalOfficer,on 82071851or by e-mailaddressed
Yours sincerelv
Michael Atkinson
Attorney-General
Encl:
AttachmentA - - Summaryof prohibitedweaponsoffencesandexemptions
Regulations2000
ArticlesandProhibitedWeapons)
Attachment2 - SummaryOffences(Dangerous
ArticlesandProhibitedWeapons)
Attachment3 - Draft of theSumnaryOffences(Dangerous
VariationRegulations2009
-3-
ATTACHMENT
A
Summary of prohibited weaponsoffencesand exemptions
(o'theAct") it is an offenceto
Under sectionl5(1c) of the SummaryOffencesAct 195.3
possess
in,
or use,aprohibitedweapon
manufacture,sell, distribute,supplyor otherwisedeal
of
unlessthepersonchargedcanprovethat he or sheis an exemptpersonin the circumstances
the allegedoffence.
in which a personis exernptfor possessionand use of a
The Act setsout circumstances
prohibitedweapon(section15(2a). Theseincludepersonswho reasonablyrequirepossession
for work purposes(this could include,for example,an engineer,lecturerof astronomer)and
personswho possessor usea prohibitedweaponfor the purposesof participatingin a lawful
to
andrecognisedform of recreationor sport(it is likely that astronomywould be considered
form
of
recreation).
a be a lawful andrecognised
In addition,the Act authorisesexernptionsto be madein two otherways. Section15(2b)of
the Act providesthat apersonis exemptif theyhavebeendeclaredto be an exemptperson,or
a mernberof an exemptclass,by the Ministeror his delegate;or theyhavebeendeclaredto be
will be
an exemptpersonor an exemptclassin the Regulations( for example,astronomers
declaredto be an exemptclassof persons)'
Peoplewho are exernptedunder the Act or the Regulationsdo not have to apply for an
exemption.However,a persottwill be protectedfrom criminal liability only if the prohibited
with its
weapottis usedfor the purposefor which the exemptionis given and in accordance
conditions.For example,peoplewho are allowedto have a prohibitedweaponbecausethey
reasonablyrequireit for work, recreationor sportwill not be exernptfrom criminalliability if
suchastakingit with themwhenthey go out to
theyhaveit with themin othercircumstances,
a nightclubor hotel or to a party.
Thosewho feel that they have a valid reasonto possessa prohibitedweapon,but are not
coveredby one of the exemptionsin the Act or the Regulations,may applyto the Ministeror
(2d) and(2g) of the Act'
his delegatefor an exernptionundersubsections
For the pu{posesof issuingexemptions,this powerhasbeendelegatedto the Commissioner
of Policl, the Deputy Commissionerof Police, the Deputy Registrarof Firearmsand any
person
to whom the Commissionerhas delegatedhis powersunder the FirearmsAct 1977.
^Currently,
applicationsmust be madeat a PoliceStationand a fee paid. A declarationthat a
person,or classof persons,is exempt,maybe conditionalor unconditional.
Draft
3 1 . 3 . 2 0 A(1
9)
South Austraha
SummaryOffences@angerousArticles and Prohibited
Weapons) Variation Regulations 2009
underthe SummaryOffincesAct 1953
Contents
Part l-Preliminary
I
2
3
Short title
Commencement
Variation provisions
Pafi 2-Variation of SummaryOffences (DangerousArti cles and'Pr ohibit ed
Weapons)Regulations2000
4
5
Variation of ScheduleI clause8-Gas injector devices
Variation of Schedule2-Prohibited weapons
6
Variation of Schedule3-Exemptions
LaserPointer
l0A
Part l-Preliminary
l-Short
title
Articlesand
(Dangerous
Offences
maybecitedastheSummary
Theseregulations
2009.
Regplations
Variation
ProhibitedWeapons)
2-Commencement
Theseregulationswill come into operation 3 months after the date on which they are
made.
3-Variation provisions
ln theseregulations,a provisionundera headingreferringto thevariationof specified
regulationsvariestheregulationsso specified.
Part 2-Yariation of Summary Offences@angerousArticles and
Prohibited Weapons)Regulations2000
4-Yariation of schedule1 clause8-Gas injector devices
Schedule 1, clause 8-delete "includinB a Farallon Shark Dart" and insert:
for example, a Farallon Shark Dart or a WASP Injector Knife
2:41PM
cP 118AGA4G31.3.2009
Preparedby ParliamentaryCounsel
Draft
2009
Summary Offences(DangerousArticles and Prohibited Weapons) Variation Regulations
part 2-Variat ion of Sumiary Ofences (DangerousArticles and Prohibited Weapons)Regulations2000
S-Variation of Schedule2-Prohibited weapons
2-afterclause10insert:
Schedule
lOA-Laser pointer
A hand-held device designedor adaptedto emit a laser beam with an
accessibleemission level of greaterthan 1 milliwatt'
G-Variation
(1)
of Schedule 3-Exemptions
as
Schedule3, clause4-after its presentcontents(now to be designated
(1)) insert:
subclause
(2)
In this clause-undeteetableknife meansa knife declaredto be a prohibitedweapon
bYclauselTofSchedule2'
,
I
(2) Schedule
3-after clause16insert:
\
l7-Laser pointers for astronomicaluse
of or uses,a laserpointerfor the
(1) A personwhohaspossession
purposeor in the courseof participatingin asffonomyis exemptfrom
the offencesofpossessionanduseofa laserpointerunder
section1s(lcXb)of theAct if theperson(a)
(b)
(2)
is a memberof an astronomicalsocietyor organisation
of Police;or
approvedby the Commissioner
participatesin astronomyat an observatoryor underthe
supervisionof a memberof an astronomicalsocietyor
of Police'
approvedby the Commissioner
organisation
In this clauseIaserpointel meansa devicedeclaredto be a prohibitedweaponby
clause10AofSchedule2'
(
NoteAs requiredby section l0AA(2) of theSubordinateLegislationAct 1978,the Minister hascertified
that, in the Minister's opinion, it is necessaryor appropriatethat theseregulationscomeinto
operationas set out in theseregulations'
Made by the Governor
Council
of theExecutive
with theadviceandconsent
on
No
of 2009
AGO0073/08CS
2:41PM
GP 118 AG/MG 31.3.2009
Preparedby ParliamentaryCounsel