Weapons Offences Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$2,100 — Fixed Fee
Fixed Fees: Unlawful possession (Category A, B or M weapon) — Cairns Magistrates Court plea — $2,100 fixed ; Unlawful possession (Category C, D, H, R or prohibited weapon) or supply — Magistrates Court plea — $4,800 fixed ; Trafficking or District Court matters — contact for a fixed fee quote Covers : initial consultation, review of the prosecution brief and circumstances of possession, advice on category and mandatory sentencing exposure, sentencing submissions, character reference guidance,…
What Is Included
Initial consultation to review the charge, the weapon category, your licence history, and the circumstances of possession Honest advice on whether mandatory imprisonment applies to your specific charge Review of the prosecution brief, QP9, and any search and seizure documentation Advice on whether the charge or facts can be negotiated with the prosecution Preparation of written sentencing…
This Is More Serious Than Most People Realise
A weapons charge in Queensland is not treated like a traffic matter. For certain categories of firearm and certain circumstances, the court has no discretion — mandatory minimum imprisonment applies and cannot be suspended. A first-time offender with no history can walk into a Cairns courtroom unrepresented and walk out with a sentence they had no idea was coming. The first thing Sacha does is…
Whether You Go to Jail Depends on the Specifics
Most weapons charges in Queensland are dealt with in the Magistrates Court under s 50 of the Weapons Act 1990 (Qld) — unlawful possession of a weapon without an appropriate licence. The penalty range is wide and depends heavily on the category of weapon and the circumstances. For most Category A, B or M possession charges — think unlicensed rifles, shotguns, prohibited knives — the maximum is 2…
Your Licence Is Also at Risk
A weapons charge triggers automatic suspension of any current firearms licence under s 28 of the Act from the moment the charge is before the court. Conviction results in mandatory disqualification — 5 years at the lower end, permanent disqualification for serious categories. If you rely on a firearms licence for work — primary industries, pest management, security — the licence consequence can be…
What Changes the Outcome
The mandatory minimums aside, most weapons charges carry a wide sentencing range. The difference between a fine and actual imprisonment, or between a conviction recorded and none, comes down to preparation. Whether the mandatory minimum actually applies. These provisions are specific — they require a defined weapon category, a defined circumstance, and an adult offender. Getting this analysis…
What Sacha Focuses On
Before any submission is prepared, the brief is read in full. Where there are issues with how the weapon was found — the basis for the search, chain of custody, or whether possession is genuinely established on the evidence — those are identified before the plea is entered, not after. For cases where mandatory minimums are in play, the focus is on whether they are actually engaged on the specific…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will I go to jail for having an unlicensed gun? Not necessarily. For most first-offence Category A or B possession charges without aggravating circumstances, imprisonment is not the usual outcome. The risk increases significantly for higher-category weapons — particularly pistols and Category H firearms — and where the weapon was involved in another offence. Sacha will give you an honest…