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National cabinet will consider options to better regulate gun ownership in Australia in the wake of two police officers and a bystander being killed in Queensland, the Prime Minister has announced.
Queensland Police Union president Ian Leavers floated the idea of setting up a registry last week after constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold were killed when they attended a rural property in the Western Darling Downs on December 12.
The pair, alongside their colleagues constables Keely Brough and Randall Kirk, were ambushed by Nathaniel Train, his brother Gareth and his wife Stacey, who were heavily armed.
Queensland Police Union boss Ian Leavers has opened the floor to setting up a national firearms registry following the shooting deaths of two police officers
Faces of the dead: Matthew Arnold, 26, was killed upon arriving at the property, as was Rachel McCrow, 29
A nearby neighbour, Alan Dare, was also killed when he went to the property to investigate after seeing smoke billowing from the area.
Constables Brough and Kirk were able to escape the horrific shooting and call for help from other police officers nearby.
Anthony Albanese will be briefed on ‘practical ways’ in which gun laws could be changed ahead of the next national cabinet meeting.
‘On the issue of guns in the wake of the tragedy on the Darling Downs that occurred just a week ago, this tragedy is still, of course, the subject of ongoing investigations,’ the Prime Minister said on Tuesday.
‘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.
‘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.’
The two police officers along with Alan Dare were shot dead by Nathaniel Train, his brother Gareth and his wife Stacey at the Train’s property (pictured) in the Western Darling Downs
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has also backed the call for a national firearm registry
Queensland Police Commissioner Katarina Carroll has backed the call to introduce a national firearm registry and welcomed a possible review.
‘I am supportive of examining any changes needed to improve officer safety and further protect the community,’ she told The Australian on Sunday.
‘Enhancing national databases and information-sharing arrangements across jurisdictions remains a priority for the Queensland Police Service.’
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said he was open to having a discussion about a registry but warned that it shouldn’t hinder how rural Aussies used guns
Gun registries are enforced by each state and territory.
There have been calls to create a uniform registry since the 1996 Port Arthur massacre.
The push to introduce one was also suggested after the 2014 Lindt cafe siege in Sydney.
However, the different platforms used by each jurisdiction have caused issues for the registry to become effective in providing police with information quickly.
Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce said he was open to having a conversation about a national firearms registry but warned it should not interfere with how rural and regional Australians used guns.
‘As long as we don’t get an overarching ridiculous restriction on how we utilise firearms because we utilise them for work and we do utilise them for recreation,’ he told Channel 7 on Monday.
‘It’s a big sport for Australia, it gives so many people so much enjoyment and when criminals – and these people are criminals, the worst type, cold-blooded murderers – break the law, they make it difficult for everybody.’
Labor MP Meryl Swanson said the government would look to work with the states if need be.
‘States are mainly, let’s face it, the ones responsible for the registration and control of guns, but we will work with them and let’s just see what the inquiry brings forth from that horrendous incident,’ she said on Monday.
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