Parents of Wieambilla officers back federal gun buyback as Queensland set to opt out

The parents of police killed in the 2022 Wieambilla ambush have voiced support for the federal government’s proposed gun buyback scheme, while The Guardian understands the Queensland LNP government decided not to support the buyback at a marathon cabinet meeting on Monday. Constables Rachel McCrow and Matthew Arnold, and civilian Alan Dare, were gunned down at a remote property near Wieambilla in 2022.

Speaking for both families, Rachel’s mother, Judy McCrow, said: “We fully support the federal government in its plan to tighten guns laws and promote the national gun buyback scheme.” The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, has called on the states to jointly fund and help administrate a national buyback similar to the 1996–97 program after the Port Arthur massacre; Tasmania and the Northern Territory have already announced they will not participate.

A coronial inquest into the Wieambilla shootings identified deficiencies in weapons licensing and registration programs and recommended the state consider mandatory mental health assessments for weapons licence applicants.

Key Topics

Politics, National Gun Buyback, Wieambilla Shootings, Rachel Mccrow, Anthony Albanese, Queensland Lnp