Yamba: Wayne and Noah Smith inquest calls for enhanced mental health and firearms safety measures

An inquest into the deaths of Wayne and Noah Smith has determined the dad did fatally shoot his son before killing himself, and highlighted the need for improved firearm safety measures for those with poor mental health.

A man and a teenage boy who were found shot dead inside a home in a suspected murder-suicide. The bodies of the 58-year-old father Wayne Smith and his 15-year-old son Noah. Picture: Natalie Grono

Content warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of suicide.

An inquest into the deaths of Wayne and Noah Smith has determined the dad did fatally shoot his son before killing himself, and highlighted the need for improved firearm safety measures for those with poor mental health.

In Lismore on Friday, closing submissions in the inquest criticised the lack of detailed clinical notes by Wayne’s doctor and the deficiencies in the firearms licensing process, which allowed the Yamba father’s license to be reinstated despite his significant history of mental instability.

Recommendations from the inquest included improvements to the New South Wales Firearms Registry, such as enhanced health risk assessments and faster report reviews.

Additionally, there was a call for better mental health support in the community and a proposed statutory obligation for health practitioners to report safety concerns regarding firearms license holders.

Wayne Smith, 58, and his son Noah.

The inquest found that Noah, 15, died from a gunshot wound inflicted by his father, Wayne, who subsequently took his own life. They were found in a bedroom together with Wayne, 58, lying next to Noah, who was wrapped in a blanket and “likely asleep” when he was shot, the inquest heard last week.

The inquest was not focused on assigning criminal responsibility but rather on identifying systemic failures and contributing factors.

The bodies of Wayne Smith and Noah Smith were found inside their Kookaburra Circuit home in Yamba on June 1, 2023. Picture: Natalie Grono

Wayne Smith had a long history of mental health issues, including chronic depression and anxiety, for which he had been on medication for since at least 2004.

His family doctor, Dr. Hope, noted that Wayne’s mental health struggles began after a severe hand injury in a lawnmower accident before 2002.

Wayne’s mental health fluctuated, with significant deterioration during traumatic events.

A particularly severe episode occurred in May 2020, when Wayne experienced daily thoughts of self-harm. He was admitted to Grafton Base Hospital for assessment, the inquest had heard.

Noah Smith, 15, and his father Wayne died in a murder-suicide at Yamba on June 1, 2023, an inquest has heard.

Dr Hope provided urgent support, but his clinical notes were criticised for being generic and lacking detail, complicating the understanding of Wayne’s mental health history by other practitioners.

In the months leading up to the incident, Wayne’s mental health worsened due to several stressors, including a severe boating accident involving Noah, in which he required extensive care and hospital visits.

During this period, Wayne stopped taking his medication, including lithium, which had been crucial for his stability.

Despite seeking help from counselling services and reconnecting with psychologists in 2023, Wayne’s mood continued to decline, and he expressed feelings of his home life “falling apart”. Discussions about hospitalisation were raised, but resisted by Wayne, the inquest heard.

The inquest highlighted a lack of community and hospital-based mental health options in the region.

Wayne Smith and Noah Smith, died in a suspected murder suicide in Yamba in June 2023 after a prolonged struggle with mental health.

Noah played a significant role in his father’s life, often acting as a caregiver due to Wayne’s mental health issues, the inquest heard.

Clinical psychologist Dr. O’Neal, suggested Wayne’s depression might have contributed to an insecure attachment between father and son.

The Yamba home of Wayne Smith and his son Noah Smith, who died in a murder-suicide. Picture: Chris Knight

Noah’s protective role was evident in text messages from 2023, where he monitored his father’s wellbeing.

This dynamic placed a heavy burden on Noah, who struggled to engage with other support systems, the inquest heard.

Wayne’s firearms license, which had been suspended in 2021 due to his mental health history, was reinstated based on a medical certificate from Dr. Hope and a letter from Dr. Hase.

Dr Hope’s certificate incorrectly stated that Wayne’s issues had resolved, overlooking the severe crisis in May 2020.

Dr Hase’s letter was based on limited consultations and did not fully account for Wayne’s mental health history.

The firearms registry’s adjudication officer, unaware of Wayne’s previous nondisclosures, reinstated his license in October 2022, with firearms returned in December 2022.

Since May 2023, significant changes have been made to the NSW Firearms Registry regime.

These include a new application form with individual questions on health history, greater guidance for adjudicators, a detailed health risk assessment form, and faster report reviews.

Adjudicators can now seek further information, and failure to reply results in license refusal.

Special conditions for reassessment are available for well-controlled mental health conditions.

Proposed recommendations included requiring applicants to demonstrate current permission to shoot, improving information rigour for recreational hunting licenses, and consulting with health bodies to encourage GPs to routinely ask about firearms.

There was also a proposal to introduce a statutory obligation for health practitioners to report safety concerns about firearms license holders to police.

Noah’s death was characterised as an act of filicide within the context of family or domestic violence, despite Wayne’s mental distress and love for his son, the inquest heard.

The Domestic Violence Death Review Team will consider the circumstances to determine if they are classified as domestic violent deaths for legislative purposes.

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Originally published as Yamba: Wayne and Noah Smith inquest calls for enhanced mental health and firearms safety measures