After review, the Victorian Department of Justice has elected not to include proposed amendments to the Weapons Act which would have made swords and crossbows Prohibited weapons. A lot of interest was generated in the SCA, and amongst Living History organisations the world over when the Victorian Government announced a review of the Weapons Act that would define swords and crossbows as Prohibited Weapons. Prohibited weapons can only be possessed by a person owning a licence, and must be kept on secure premises in a locked cabinet that is attached to the structure. If this legislative change had been approved it would have been extraordinarily difficult for SCAers to possess these items, and even more difficult to use them as part of their historical recreations.

A recent communication from the Regulation Review Sub-committee states the following:

The Regulation Review Subcommittee notes that the Regulations have changed in form in that the parts which related to the change of status of swords and cross bows from controlled weapons to prohibited weapons and the prescription of inert or imitation explosives as controlled weapons have now been abandoned.

The Regulation Review Subcommittee thanks you for your interest.

Yours sincerely Helen M Mason Legal Advisor Scrutiny of Acts and Regulations Committee

Victoria is the second smallest, and the second most populated state of Australia. It includes the Barony of Stormhold, the Shire of Arrowsreach, the Shire of Borderscros and the incipient Shires of Iseldir and Cairn Faill. The SCA was but one group that commented on the proposed legislation. Metal weapons organisations, theatre companies, dance schools, collectors and many other concerned people wrote to the Victorian Department of Justice to ensure the amendments were not enacted.