Advertisement |
The bill was passed on Nov. 17 and is pending royal approval.
It goes on to define possession as "possession of a computer or data storage device holding or containing the blueprint or of a document in which the blueprint is recorded" or "control of the blueprint held in a computer that is in the possession of another person (whether the computer is in this jurisdiction or outside this jurisdiction)".
The penalty for violating these terms has been set at 14 years in prison.
Some parties are exempt from the law, including law enforcement and certain researchers on a case-by-case basis.
The Australian government tested a 3D printed gun in 2013 and warned that the weapons have the capacity to explode and cause harm to the user.
The policy stands in line with Australia's strict anti-gun laws in response to a history of shootings in the 1980's and 1990's.