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Police have confirmed a potential privacy breach of their online notification platform for the firearm buy-back programme.
A spokesperson said police had been made aware today of a "potential issue" by a member of the public.
"Immediately upon being made aware of the issue the platform was closed down and we are investigating the matter further," said the spokesperson.
"We have advised the office of the Privacy Commissioner of the potential issue.
"No further information is available at this time."
Deputy Commissioner Mike Clement will speak to media at 2pm about the issue.
The Council of Licenced Firearms Owners issued a statement on the matter.
"COLFO has learned within the past hour of a massive data breach on the police database for firearm hand-in and compensation," said spokeswoman Nicole McKee.
"Information on 70,000 firearm hand-in notifications, the firearms and owner bank account numbers, were accessible to web page users."
"COLFO has sent an urgent email to all members alerting them to the breach."
McKee said the organisation "demands that the web page and whole hand-in application programme is suspended immediately".
"The incident shows precisely why a police firearms register cannot be trusted."