Gun law reformer Walter Mikac calls for mandatory health checks after Wieambilla
The man who lobbied the federal government on gun laws after a very personal link to the Port Arthur massacre says it’s time for Queensland to act
The man who lobbied the federal government to strengthen Australia’s gun laws has urged the Queensland government to enforce mandatory health assessments for gun owners.
Walter Mikac’s wife Nanette and their two young daughters Alannah, 6, and Madeline, 3, were among 35 people gunned down by Martin Bryant in the tiny Tasmanian town of Port Arthur on April 28, 1996.
After the massacre, Mr Mikac wrote to then-Prime Minister John Howard lobbying him to strengthen the country’s gun laws, which led to sweeping legislative changes to firearms ownership and the buying back of more than 700,000 guns.
Now close to 30 years after the tragedy, Mr Mikac has backed further reforms to Queensland’s gun laws to enforce mandatory mental health assessments for weapons licence holders.
Mr Mikac said mental health checks could have prevented the 2022 Wieambilla police massacre, in which Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were murdered after they arrived at the home of conspiracy theorists Gareth, Nathaniel and Stacey Train.
“Having a mental health check prior to getting guns, certainly in that circumstance, could have prevented it, because it would have … been clear to whoever the health practitioner was that things were not right in that situation,” Mr Mikac said.
“You want there to be a legacy, or you want there to be some learning for the community as a result of it, because if they (the government) just don’t do anything, and an event like that happens again then … it’s a case of, why didn’t we act? Who’s responsible for not acting?”
Western Australia recently introduced the toughest gun laws in the country, which included mental health checks and a cap on how many guns someone can own – changes Mr Mikac has thrown his support behind.
“When the National Firearms Agreement was drawn up, or was ready, way back in 1996 … Queensland and WA were the two states that didn’t want to come on board, and were really putting up a fair fight to not want to go along with it, and now you’ve got WA has brought in probably the most stringent firearms legislation – it’s quite impressive.
“So if they can do it, there’s no reason why Queensland can’t do it if they really want to make a difference.”
He said even if Queensland adopted a small aspect of having a mental health check, it would go a long way to strengthening the states gun laws – particularly as other jurisdictions continue work to form a national gun register.
The register is due to be operational in mid-2028.
Originally published as Gun law reformer Walter Mikac calls for mandatory health checks after Wieambilla
