Stuff in italics are my words! I've done a bunch of digging trying to find the specific legislation covering Victoria.
From a Police perspective they only worry about Licensed Firearm Dealers holding powder, primers etc BUT Worksafe Victoria rules would also apply. So, for firearms license holders (not dealers) only the Worksafe requirements appear to apply.
Victoria Police: Licensed Firearms Dealers
http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.as ... t_ID=34446
How much ammunition can I store, sell, collect and import?
Licensed firearm dealers can sell, possess and store any quantity of cartridge ammunition but larger amounts of cartridge ammunition store have greater storage requirements. Dealers can also import any amount of cartridge ammunition as long as they have an import permit from LRD.
Licensed ammunition collectors can store and collect any amount of cartridge ammunition and can also import any amount of cartridge ammunition as long as they have an import permit from LRD.
Licensed firearm dealers can sell any amount of gunpowder and propellants provided they have a Worksafe Licence to Sell Explosives. Although dealers can also store any amount of gunpowder or propellants, they must have a WorkSafe Licence to Store Explosives in order to store more than 20kg of propellants or more than 5kg of propellant gun powder. Dealers must also have a WorkSafe Licence to Import Explosives to import any amount of gunpowder and propellants.
Worksafe Victoria: Licence to store explosives
http://www.vwa.vic.gov.au/__data/assets ... xpl_P3.pdf
A licence to store explosives allows a person to:
• store explosives of the type specified and in quantities greater than those shown in column 1 in the table on the next page but not more than the quantities shown in column 2 (‘medium storage’), or
• store more than the maximum quantities in column 2. This quantity must be stored in a magazine in accordance with the requirements of AS 2187.1 Explosives – Storage, transport and use – Storage
...we're only interested in the column 1 bit, unless you are stockpiling for the end of the world. ....and a bit lower (noting I've trimmed this to show just the relevant bits)....
A person does not require a licence to store explosives if they:
• are a licensed firearms dealer storing cartridge ammunition
• hold a licence to manufacture explosives at a premises and store explosives of the type and quantity specified in that licence at those premises
• are storing consumer fireworks that are not more than the quantity shown in column 1
• are storing distress signals in a quantity not more than the quantity shown in column 1
• are storing industrial safety cartridges less than amounts shown in column 1
• hold a Licence to Use Blasting Explosives and only store the type of explosives they are authorised to use and in a quantity not more than that in column 1
• hold a Licence to Sell Explosives and only store the type of explosives they are licensed to sell and in a quantity not more than that in column 1
• hold a Licence to Use Fireworks as a Pyrotechnician and the fireworks are of a type that they are authorised by the licence to use and in a quantity not more than that in column 1 or if the fireworks specified in the licence are stored in accordance with the requirements of the Regulations and for not more than seven days
• holds a firearm licence and is storing safety cartridges, primers or propellants in quantities not more than those in column 1
In the above, not you *DO NOT* need a license for the amounts shown in column 1 *IF* you hold a firearms license. This brings us to Column 1. As the table is hard to reproduce here, I'll cut it down to the relevant bits.
Aggregate maximum quantity by type in any storage
Type of explosive: Propellant Gunpowder of Classification Code 1.1D
Column 1 (Maximum quantity allowed without a licence): 5 kg
Type of explosive: Propellants of Classification Code 1.1C and 1.3C
Column 1 (Maximum quantity allowed without a licence): 20 kg
Type of explosive: Safety cartridges (or industrial safety cartridges) of Classification Code 1.4S
Column 1 (Maximum quantity allowed without a licence): 40,000 in number
Type of explosive: Primers of Classification Code 1.4S
Column 1 (Maximum quantity allowed without a licence): 10,000 in number
and just to add some more info from the bottom of their Information Sheet
The information presented in this information sheet is intended for general use only. It should not be viewed as a definitive guide to the law, and should be read in conjunction with the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 and the Dangerous Goods Act 1985.Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information sheet, the advice contained herein may not apply in every circumstance. Accordingly, the Victorian WorkCover Authority cannot be held responsible, and extends no warranties as to the suitability of the information for any particular purpose or actions taken by third parties as a result of information contained in the information sheet.WorkSafe Victoria is a trading name of the Victorian WorkCover Authority.
Note that the Dangerous Goods Act (Vic version) only mentions gunpowder 3 times. Defining it as an explosive (separating it from blasting powder) and implying a 'genuine need' (otherwise an offence). See below.
Dangerous Goods Act 1985
http://www.legislation.vic.gov.au/domin ... 89a081.pdf
So in summary for Vic:
If you hold a firearms license and are NOT a dealer, you can store without any special license:
5Kg of "propellant gunpowder" Classification Code 1.1D, <----UPDATED
20Kg of "propellant" Classification Code 1.1C and 1.3C, <----UPDATED
40,000 rounds generally Classification Code 1.4S, <----UPDATED
10,000 primers generally Classification Code 1.4S. <----UPDATED
If anyone can add to, or clarify this with links, please do so for the benefit of all of us.
UPDATED to include the specific classifications. Note these classification numbers are standardised across all states, but it may be worth checking the classification of what you're buying!
Below is quoting NSW definitions, but as the classification code is standardised it's a good starting point
http://www.workcover.nsw.gov.au/formspu ... s_5258.pdf
Ammunition, percussion caps and capped cartridge cases may be classified as explosives of Class 1.4S
Powders for firearms may be classified as Class 1.1C or Class 1.3C (propellant powder or smokeless powder), or Class 1.1D (gunpowder or black powder).
When they have rung me in the past to do inspections, they have only ever said they wanted to do a storage inspection, not the actual firearms. I don't argue the point, but it would be interesting.