I received a communication from our local federal member Kay Hull yesterday enclosing a letter from Bob Debus, the Minister for Home Affairs.
I quote the relevant parts below.
" The government created a new import control on May 15th to come into effect on 1st July 2008. this import will
restrict (my underline) the importation of certain handheld laser pointers with an accessible emission level above 1mW. The new arrangements will balance the risk to aircraft with the legitimate use of laser equipment by responsible citizens.
The government is contacting known importers prior to 1 July, as well as other legitimate user groups, to advise them of the new restriction. Customs will also be providing guidance to assist legitimate users in understanding the permission process for the importation of laser pointers after 1 July 2008. This information will be available on the Customs website or by emailing
weaponspolicy@customs.gov.au.
To apply for permission to import you must first obtain a B709B form- Importation of Weapons-police authorisation from your local police firearms registry authorising you to possess the goods. If you successfully obtain a B709B form, you must then complete a B710 form- Application for Permission to Import Schedule 2 and 3 Weapons. This form is availble in the forms section on the Customs website at
www.customs.gov.au. and must be forwarded to Customs with the original B709B Form issued by the police firearms registry"
They are not banned. Just tangled up in red tape.
Bill