Anthony Albanese backs calls for national firearms register

Anthony Albanese has backed a push for national cabinet to consider police calls for a national register of licensed gun owners in the wake of last week’s execution-style killing of two young constables.

Constable Rachel McCrow.

Anthony Albanese has backed a push for national cabinet to consider police calls for a national register of licensed gun owners in the wake of last week’s execution-style killing of two young constables in regional Queensland.

A public memorial service will be held on Wednesday at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre for Constables Rachel McCrow, 29 and Matthew Arnold, 26 who were shot dead on December 12 in an ambush on a remote property at Wieambilla, 290km west of Brisbane.

Since the two officers and a neighbour were killed by three shooters, Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers has led calls for the establishment of a national gun owner’s register – which was first recommended in the National Firearms Agreement struck after the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk supported the call, saying she intended to take it to national cabinet next year, in a move supported by her Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll and police ministers in NSW, South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.

On Tuesday, the Prime Minister said he was not seeking to change gun ownership laws, merely to improve how information is shared to better protect police officers.

“My government will take any advice, particularly from police and law enforcement, about better ways in which we can have co-ordination and better laws to protect people,’’ Mr Albanese said.

“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.

“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.”

Constables McCrow and Arnold and two other officers were responding to a NSW-instigated missing person inquiry for former NSW school principal Nathaniel Train when they were ambushed by Train, his brother Gareth, and Gareth’s wife Stacey.

Constable Matthew Arnold.

Constable Randall Kirk was shot and injured and Constable Keely Brough escaped.

Neighbour Alan Dare, 58, was also killed by the Trains.

Last week, The Australian revealed Nathaniel Train had a gun licence in NSW, and Queensland police are investigating whether the four officers knew that when they approached the house.

Police are also investigating suspicions that one of the three was the source of a tip-off to NSW police that Nathaniel Train was on the Queensland property.

Police currently can’t readily access information that a person holds a gun licence interstate.

All three Trains – who were found with long-armed firearms, believed to be high-powered weapons similar to hunting rifles – were killed after the ambush when police stormed the property in armoured vehicles.

Gareth Train had been prolific in posting conspiracy theories online in the lead-up to the attack.

Mr Leavers, who is also president of the Police Federation of Australia, has also called for mental health checks to be conducted to obtain or renew a gun licence.

On Tuesday, he said it was a “no-brainer” to establish a national uniform system when it comes to gun laws.

Mr Leavers also announced plans for the police union to buy the Wieambilla property so that it does not fall into the wrong hands.

“I don’t want to see this land fall into the wrong hands of the anti-vaxxers, pro-gun conspiracy theorists who have warped and dangerous views and (might) use it for evil,” he said.

“What I’d like is to see this become a permanent memorial to Matthew and Rachel – whether it is used as a police retreat or as a training centre – and we can honour that sacred site where both Matthew and Rachel made the ­ultimate sacrifice.’’