KIDS as young as 12 would be allowed to fire high-powered paintball guns under “common sense” reforms by the NSW government aimed at cutting red tape around the popular sport.

Minister for Better Regulation Matt Keane has introduced legislation proposing to lower the playing age from 16 to 12 bringing NSW into line with other states such as Western Australia — where the age limit is also 12 — and South Australia, where it is 10.

The state’s guidelines for the military-style game were last changed in 2006, when the legal age for someone to play was reduced from 18 to 16.

Mr Keane said the reforms would remove an “anomaly” where kids aged 12 and over are legally allowed to shoot real guns under parental supervision but not fire capsules of paint at their friends.

“As well, children aged 12 and over will be able to participate with parental permission, removing an anomaly which allowed them to shoot guns under supervision but not play paintball,” he said.

The Paintball Bill 2018 will also remove the regulation of paintball markers (paintball guns) from the Firearms Act 1996 and shift it to NSW Fair Trading.

Minister for Police Troy Grant said the current regulatory arrangements were not appropriate for an industry such as paintball.

“It does not make sense to regulate paintball in the same way as actual firearms that fire live ammunition,” he said.

The reforms will also include a new digitised system to expedite the process of applying for permits.

“These common sense regulatory changes will ensure appropriate permits, training, storage and restricted use requirements are maintained to ensure the highest levels of consumer protection and community safety,” Mr Keane said.

Australian Paintball Industry Association president Michael Whybrew said the current legislation was “the laughing stock of the world”.

“They use us (NSW) as the example of how crazy paintball laws can be,” he said.

“Everywhere else in the world paintball is very loosely regulated and there’s been no issue.”

Mr Whybrew said lowering the age barrier to 12 was a good starting point but “really it should be lower”.

He said it was “ridiculous” paintball guns were classified under the Firearms Act which also covers machine guns and hand grenades.

“These are non lethal — they shoot a little gelatine ball,” he said.

“All the changes they’re doing are very good and our industry definitely approves of it.”

Shooters, Fishers and Farmers Party MP Robert Borsak approved of the changes saying paintball markers “should never have been caught up in the Firearms Act”.

“It’s another example of the 1996 gun laws overreaching when they’re not guns – they never were and never will be,” he said.

The government is also beefing up penalties for people who do the wrong thing.

A paintball operator without a licence will face up to two years imprisonment and a $110,000 fine under the new laws while individuals could be slapped with a $55,000 fine.