http://www.snipercentral.com/forums//viewtopic.php?p=284682&sid=a3c99efd91e7e00be6ed24d2e50f9348

This may go some way towards some kind of "reasoning".
I have also applied for a permit to purchase a 50CAL rifle in Victoria. The only requirement I had from the police was a letter from the Military Rifle club saying what a nice fella I was and that they were happy for me to use it at their range (Eagle Park).
I may not make myself popular here but I will say that I can understand this. Both the 338 and 50 Cal frighten pilots (I'm one) and I guess that the ability to reach out to huge distances would appeal to the morons among us.