Queensland’s state government is facing criticism for allegedly disregarding a key recommendation from the Wieambilla coronial inquest to implement mandatory mental health checks for gun licence applicants. The state opposition has accused the government of ignoring this crucial suggestion while tabling new legislation on Tuesday that addresses firearm ownership and antisemitism in response to the Bondi terror attack.
The legislation also aims to address findings from the Wieambilla inquest, which investigated the tragic 2022 killings of police constables Matthew Arnold and Rachel McCrow, along with their neighbor Alan Dare. These individuals were fatally shot on a rural property by a trio suffering from a shared delusional disorder. According to state coroner Terry Ryan, some of the firearms used were legally owned, despite the mental illness of the owner, Nathaniel Train.
Government’s Response and Opposition Criticism
Coroner Ryan had recommended that the government explore the feasibility of mandatory mental health assessments for weapons licence applicants. However, Police Minister Dan Purdie highlighted issues with similar systems in Western Australia, where the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners raised concerns about GPs’ ability to conduct such risk assessments.
“In WA, the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners has raised concerns about whether GPs have the proper skills to do that risk assessment, and that has posed issues where this has been done in other areas,” Purdie said.
Shadow Attorney General Meaghan Scanlon criticized the government for allegedly succumbing to the gun lobby’s influence. She pointed out that the government had also opted out of the national gun buyback program and rejected new restrictions on the number and type of firearms individuals can own.
“The LNP have ignored the recommendations from the coronial inquest, and they have ignored the families of Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold,” Scanlon stated.
Families and Advocates Weigh In
The families of McCrow and Arnold expressed their support for any policy changes aimed at enhancing the safety of Queensland Police Service officers. They emphasized their ongoing commitment to advocating for improved training, communication, and protective equipment.
Meanwhile, Stephen Bendle, a senior advocacy adviser at the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, criticized the government for not implementing preventive measures to reduce firearm violence.
“There is still nothing in there that goes any way towards preventing firearm violence or reducing the number of firearms in the community, which is what the majority of Queenslanders expect,” Bendle remarked.
Legislative Changes and Future Implications
Instead of mandatory mental health checks, the government has decided to make it mandatory for carers in the public health system to report high-risk patients to Queensland police. While clinicians already have this power, it was previously optional. Last year, about 550 individuals were reported under the existing system, according to Health Minister Tim Nicholls.
Additionally, the government plans to streamline the paperwork for police to issue firearm prohibition orders and invest $5.3 million in drone technology, improve intelligence-sharing between Queensland and federal police, and enhance police communications.
The coroner concluded that the Wieambilla shootings were not due to a systems failure, as the perpetrators were not known to any health professional.
Hate Speech Reforms and Legal Challenges
Alongside gun law reforms, the government introduced hate speech legislation on Tuesday. This grants the attorney general the power to ban slogans deemed to incite discrimination or violence. Justice for Palestine has already indicated plans to challenge the legislation legally.
Professor Anne Twomey, a constitutional law expert, noted the complexity of these proposed laws, which target specific political expressions. She highlighted the need for high-level judicial scrutiny to determine their constitutionality.
“On the one hand, the proposed laws permit regulations to be made to prohibit particular expressions. As this is not ‘content-neutral,’ it will require high-level scrutiny by a court and a compelling reason to survive that constitutional scrutiny,” Twomey explained.
The legislation also allows police to detain and search individuals suspected of hate speech offenses without a warrant, raising further concerns about civil liberties.
As Queensland navigates these legislative changes, the debate over balancing public safety with individual rights continues to unfold, with significant implications for the state’s approach to gun control and hate speech.
