The federal government was warned gunsmiths would be able to easily sidestep an import ban on a controversial rapid-fire shotgun by legally modifying the weapon so that it could shoot more rounds.
The advice from the head of the Australian Crime Commission was prepared just days before former prime minister Tony Abbott's intervention in July to place a temporary import ban on the Adler A110 rapid-fire shotgun.
While the ban halted imports of a version of the Adler that could shoot eight rounds without the need to reload, a modified version firing five shots in rapid succession was soon introduced.
It has since been revealed by AAP that gunsmiths are doing exactly what the ACC said they would: offering to legally convert the five-shot version of the Adler, in some cases so that it can hold as many as 11 rounds.
More than 7000 Adler rapid-fire shotguns have been imported since the 12-month ban was imposed.
The advice, contained in documents released by the Attorney-General's Department under freedom of information laws, shows a submission dated July 21 from ACC chief Chris Dawson to Justice Minister Michael Keenan warned "the manufacture of an after-market extended magazine is not difficult and requires no specialist gun-smithing skills".
It was "wrong" to suggest the minister didn't follow the advice of law enforcement agencies, a spokeswoman for Mr Keenan told AAP.
But while the states and territories are responsible for regulating the modification of firearms, the ACC warning raises questions about why the ban was imposed at all if it could be easily circumvented.
The revelation has led the government's opponents to brand the temporary ban as an act of political window dressing.
The submission's purpose was to "provide advice for enhanced regulation for lever action shotguns".
The warning of an after-market is listed under the heading: "Expected Reaction".
The documents also said the barrel design of the Adler would "initiate a market for the manufacture of extended magazine tubes to sell to owners of the four ... shot magazine capacity shotgun".
The Adler, according to the documents, has the capacity "to engage targets quickly with a large ... number of 12G shotgun cartridges".
Mr Keenan's spokeswoman confirmed the minister was "aware of concerns regarding the modification of lever action firearms".
"The minister receives ongoing advice from agencies regarding firearms. Such advice led to the importation ban on certain lever action firearms," she said.
"Any suggestion that the minister did not follow advice from his agencies regarding the importation ban on lever action firearms, or is somehow responsible for the modification of firearms is wrong."
Gun control advocates say the Adler should face tougher restrictions similar to those placed on semi-automatic firearms.
The Adler is currently classed Category A - the least restrictive category - as are air-rifles and paintball guns.
Australian Greens senator Nick McKim said the documents "expose the government's temporary import ban as political window-dressing rather than a genuine attempt to make Australians safer".
"Minister Keenan clearly knew full well that it would be simple to modify Adler magazines to make rapid fire shotguns even more dangerous, yet he has totally failed to respond," Senator McKim told AAP.
"Because of the government's failure, we have thousands of dangerous, rapid-fire shotguns in Australia which can be easily modified, with the minister's tacit approval."
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