Government to ban shotgun imports until 2016

The federal government will block the importation of lever action shotguns until a gun review is completed next year.

Supplied image of weapons seized at a property in Paradise Point, on the Gold Coast, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2014. Source: Queensland Police

Thousands of high-powered shotguns will be blocked from entering Australia until a review of gun legislation sparked by the deadly Lindt cafe siege is completed.

The federal government will temporarily prohibit the importation of high capacity lever action shotguns with a magazine capacity of more than five rounds, 7000 of which are reportedly due to arrive in Australia soon.

The ban will remain until a review of the National Firearms Agreement is completed early next year.