‘Wieambilla shooting massacre could have been prevented’: Attorney-General

The Wieambilla massacre that claimed the lives of two police officers and a hero neighbour could have been prevented by a national firearms register.

The Wieambilla massacre that claimed the lives of two police officers and a hero neighbour could have been prevented by a national firearms register, according to the federal Attorney-General.

The revelation comes as the Albanese Government has committed more than $160 million to gun reforms across the country, in a bid to improve communication across states and close dangerous loopholes.

The tragic events at Wieambilla in December 2022 are the catalyst for progressing the reform, which was originally recommended following the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

Constable Rachel McCrow. Picture: Supplied.

Constable Matthew Arnold. Pic Supplied.

Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and neighbour Alan Dare were shot and killed by three Christian extremists, Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train, at a remote property 300km to Brisbane’s west.

Nathaniel had his firearms licence suspended in the months leading to the tragedy.

But the killer was still able to purchase a significant stockpile of ammunition, because police were unable to locate Train and physically take possession of his licence, leaving him free to purchase weapons.

Concerns about the killer’s gun licence in NSW were also not communicated effectively with Queensland.

The federal government’s reforms will close these alarming loopholes, Attorney-General Mark Dreyfuss said it was the “precise situation this national firearms register is designed to address”.

The Train property at Wains Road Wieambilla. Picture: Liam Kidston.

In the forthcoming federal budget, scheduled for May 14, $161.3m will be invested over four years to establish the register, with state and territory firearms management systems upgraded to be compliant with the new Commonwealth database.

“You won’t be able to escape the notice of the police force in one state by purchasing firearms in another state or being licensed in another state or purchasing ammunition in another state,” he said.

“This register will ensure that that information is available to police in all states, and it will link to the licensing system.”

Facebook image of Alan Dare who died in a shooting at Wieambilla.

Constable Keely Brough escaped a shooting at a Wieambilla property.

The register will provide frontline officers with real-time information on guns and firearm parts once established to allow police to know where guns are, who owns them and what the risks to officers and the community are, Mr Dreyfus said.

But the AG said he “frankly admits” the register will be unable to track illegal or unregistered guns, which he described as “an ongoing problem in Australia”.

“That’s why we have gun amnesties and that’s why we work at reducing the number of firearms in circulation,” he said.

The register will take more than four-years to be established, but Mr Dreyfus said police across the country had increased communication sharing strategies.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the 2022 shooting was recognised as the catalyst to introduce firearm reforms, just as the Howard government’s landmark gun policies were created in the wake of the Port Arthur massacre.

Nathaniel Train had been a principal at several schools around Queensland and NSW.

Screen grab taken from footage of Gareth Train and Stacey Train posted to a now deleted YouTube channel.

“Queenslanders’ hearts will never heal when it comes to Wieambilla,” he said. “This is about an investment in community safety, the national firearms register.

“We are delivering legacy reform which will forever make Australia and Queensland a safer place.”

Assistant Commissioner Christopher Stream said the “critical real-time information” included in the reforms will provide significant improvements to officer safety.