Bill examined: QLD Police Union says new gun laws for ‘horrors of Wieambilla’, Amy Eden on mandatory sentencing

The Queensland Police Union has welcomed a new bill that would restrict gun access as a part of a massive suite of proposed laws it says could prevent future tragedies similar to the horror Wieambilla shooting.

Queensland Police Union President Ian Leavers. Picture: Liam Kidston

The Queensland Police Union has welcomed a new bill that would restrict gun ownership and access as part of a massive suite of proposed laws that would alter 12 different acts.

The Community Safety Bill 2024 would expand an electronic monitoring bill, clarify how “detention as a last resort” is to be applied for repeat offenders and increase penalties for knife possession at schools and in public places.

But the bill would also allow the police commissioner to put a stop to certain people holding firearms, require more verification for buying small arms ammunition, and extend suspensions from people who have committed certain criminal offences from holding a firearm from five years to 10.

In its explanatory memorandum, the Queensland government said the number of registered firearms in the state had increased by 60 per cent since 2013 and that 770 firearms were reported stolen in 2023.

Hinchinbrook MP and Katter’s Australian Party deputy leader Nick Dametto has condemned the bill and described it as a devious attempt by Labor to try and sneak in gun law changes to the parliament under the disguise of a “community safety” bill. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass

It adds the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission which has has conservatively estimated there was at least “200,000 firearms in the illicit market with an increasing number of organised crime groups, including outlaw motorcycle gangs engaging in the trafficking of illicit firearms”.

In its submission to the Community Safety and Legal Affairs Committee, the Queensland Police Union of Employees said it supported the proposed changes in light of the religiously-motivated terrorist attack in Wieambilla on December 12, 2022, where police constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare were murdered.

Police attend the memorial service with full police honours for our fallen colleagues Constable Rachel McCrow and Constable Matthew Arnold in December 2022. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“The horrors of Wieambilla are still fresh in the minds of the police family, whilst we cannot be sure that stronger laws to tackle illegal firearms would have prevented that tragedy we hope that action now can prevent future tragedies,” the submission written by president Ian Leavers said.

In discussing the law opposed by shooting and gun groups across the state, Mr Leavers urged the committee to “feel the urgency to go to the absolute limit of the law to protect frontline police from unlawful use of firearms”.

A recent spike in Cairns car thefts has been blamed on recidivist offenders being released from Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. Picture: QPS

The 471-page bill increases the maximum penalties for the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death or serious injury, strengthens protections for frontline emergency workers and gives police greater scope to remove online material.

The bill would clarify the meaning of principle 18 of the charter of youth justice principles in the Youth Justice Act to ensure courts must “ensure community safety” when considering whether to impose a custodial sentence on young offenders and that “detention as a last resort” does not mean “courts are unable to impose detention if other penalties are available to the court”.

In its submission, Cairns Regional Council said it supported mandatory long-term sentencing for serious repeat offenders.

Mayor Amy Eden wrote that long-term sentencing for serious repeat offenders must be “long-term, mandatory, health-based and rehabilitative” and called for the expansion of “place-based early intervention and prevention programs”.

The Cleveland Youth Detention Centre. Picture: Evan Morgan

“Unfortunately, some children do present unacceptable risks to the community,” she said.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service said it opposed the removal of, or changes to, the principle of detention as a last resort.

“The evidence has shown time and time again that incarceration of children, especially of the kind with limited to no effective rehabilitation, does not work in reducing youth offending.”

The committee is required to table its report by Friday, August 2.

Originally published as Bill examined: QLD Police Union says new gun laws for ‘horrors of Wieambilla’, Amy Eden on mandatory sentencing