The Queensland government will introduce mandatory mental health reporting for patients deemed a high risk of committing violent gun crime, in response to the Wieambilla shooting.
However, the measure falls short of a key recommendation from an inquest into the attack, which called for a review into the feasibility of mandatory mental health checks for weapons license applicants.
Police constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, and neighbour Alan Dare, were murdered in the shooting on Queensland’s Western Downs in December 2022 by violent extremists Gareth, Nathaniel, and Stacey Train.
A ministerial directive will require any health professional who believes a patient should not possess a firearm because of their physical or mental health to contact police.
Queensland Police officers Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow and neighbour Alan Dare were killed at Wieambilla in 2022. (Supplied)
“If a clinician forms the view that a patient is of a higher risk of committing violence with a weapon, then it will in effect be mandatory for that clinician to report it to the Queensland Police Service,” Health Minister Tim Nicholls told state parliament.
Clinicians can already report concerns to police.Â
Last year, Queensland Health made more than 550 disclosures regarding health practices, with two-thirds related to weapons licensing.
The mandatory reporting will not extend to the private health system.
The government will make it easier for police to issue a firearm prohibition order (FPO), preventing a person from acquiring or possessing a gun or ammunition.
Tim Nicholls says clinicians need to report high-risk patients as part of new gun laws. (ABC News)
Previously, the orders were made by a court for 60 days.
The changes will mean the police commissioner can issue a prohibition order, ranging up to 10 years for an adult and five years for children.
“We will act to bring Queensland into line with other states, allowing the police commissioner the power to issue an FPO acting on criminal intelligence, to prohibit high-risk individuals from possessing, using or acquiring firearms,” Police Minister Dan Purdie told the house.
New Qld guns law restrict weapons ownership
“That includes extremists, terrorists, bikies, and those with murderous intent.”
The Wieambilla inquest heard there were communication issues in the remote region at the time of the shooting.
The government will invest more than $5 million to improve drone technology, delivering 60 extra drones and 30 additional police pilots.
A further $1 million will be invested to eradicate black spots, with a trial to begin shortly in the Western Downs.
Premier David Crisafulli said the reforms paid tribute to the lives lost in the shooting.
“The events at Wieambilla were a dark day for Queensland and we owe it to the victims and their families to make Queensland safer,” he said.
Australian Gun Safety Alliance convenor Stephen Bendle said he was disappointed the government had not acted on the coroner’s recommendation.
“The Queensland government has let down the Queensland community,” Mr Bendle said.
“They’ve ignored the national sentiment, and the Queensland sentiment for stronger gun laws.
“What we saw in Wieambilla and also in Bondi were terrible tragedies, and the Australian population rightfully expect their governments to ensure that our gun laws are as strong as possible, expect their governments to step up, stand up for Queenslanders and not kowtow to the firearm industry.”
Katter’s Australian Party leader Robbie Katter said introducing mandatory mental health checks would have created “inadvertent effects”.
Robbie Katter says mandatory checks could be problematic. (Supplied)
“People in rural areas might have mental health issues that they won’t talk about,” Mr Katter said.
“Especially for primary producers, where the rifle is a tool of trade that they use daily. The last thing they want to do, if they’re having a tough year, is talk about their mental health to someone because they [then] get the [gun] license taken off them.”