Gun database on Albo’s agenda after fatal Wieambilla shootout

National Cabinet will look into firearm information sharing between law enforcement agencies after the triple-fatal Wieambilla shootout which resulted in the death of two police officers.

National cabinet will be briefed on “practical ways” to co-ordinate weapons databases across states and territories in the wake of the fatal Wieambilla shootout which resulted in the death of two police officers and a good Samaritan by a trio of crazed conspiracy theorists.

There have been calls from a number of state premiers, including Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, for wider discussion on Australia’s gun laws and information sharing between law enforcements across jurisdictions.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Steven Mile Dick laying flowers for fallen QPS officers at the Police memorial in the city Botanic Gardens. Pic: Annette Dew

Ms Palaszczuk last week said she “absolutely” supported more countrywide consistency when asked about proposals to get a long-vaunted national firearms register off the ground.

She said she would be “happy to raise” the issue at national cabinet when it next meets in the new year, and signalled support for more mental health checks.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, speaking on Tuesday, said the federal government would take any advice, particularly from law enforcement about “better ways (in) which we can have co-ordination and better laws to protect people”.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

He will be requesting national cabinet, when it meets in 2023, be briefed on “practical ways” to “change the way information is co-ordinated”- though signalling this may not necessarily involve changes to Australia’s gun laws.

“I am certainly up for dialogue with the states and territories about how there can be a better national consistency and national information that can serve the interests of police going about their duty,” Mr Albanese said.

“I understand that this is when we have a meeting of National Cabinet next year, and I will be asking for a briefing to go to that National Cabinet meeting for practical ways in which we can-- not change the nature of the gun laws-- but change the nature of the way that information is co-ordinated.”

Constable Matthew Arnold, 26, was one of two Queensland police officers murdered in cold blood during an ambush on a property in Wieambilla on the Darling Downs. Pic: Supplied.

Constable Rachel McCrow was one of two Queensland police officers murdered in cold blood during an ambush on a property in Wieambilla on the Darling Downs. Picture: Supplied