Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000

At any time after the appointed day, a police officer may deliver a relevant thing that is a weapon that has not been forfeited to the State—

if a police officer is satisfied a person is the owner of the weapon, or would be lawfully entitled to possess it if that person complies with the Weapons Act 1990—

to the owner or person lawfully entitled to possess it; or

if the owner or person lawfully entitled to possess it nominates another person to possess it, to that person; or

if a court order is made for the delivery of the weapon to a person under section 696 or 701—to that person.

However, a weapon may be delivered to a person mentioned in subsection (1) only if that person satisfies the police officer who holds or has custody of the weapon that the person may lawfully possess the weapon.

If the weapon has not been delivered to any person under subsection (1) within 3 months after the appointed day or the longer period the commissioner decides in a particular case, the weapon is forfeited to the State.