National

Police 'at risk' unless Wieambilla shooting sees change

Nov 22, 2025

Police near the scene of a fatal shooting in Wieambilla in 2022 — The Wieambilla shootings show how vulnerable police are in radio black spots, the police union says. -AAP Image

Coronial findings into the deadly Wieambilla shootings show police will continue to be under-resourced and "at risk" from radio and internet black spots unless changes are made, a union chief says.

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The shootings west of Brisbane on December 12, 2022 claimed six lives including two police officers and were the subject of a five-week coronial inquest in 2024.

Queensland Coroner Terry Ryan on Friday handed down findings across nine issues related to the shootings and made 10 recommendations.

Acting police union president Andy Williams said police were at risk from issues that had been known about since the day of the shootings.

"There is certainly a risk to police that they cannot use their radios to call for help, that they cannot use their iPads to read intelligence information out in the field," he said.

Vital changes around social media monitoring for violent extremism and drones for police tactical surveillance could get bogged down in bureaucracy, Mr Williams said.

"The coroner has identified gaps in resourcing," he said.

"The government needs to fund that resourcing, and the police service needs to move quickly with one person to be held accountable for the implementation of these recommendations."

Brothers Nathaniel, 46, and Gareth Train, 47, used high-powered rifles to gun down constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, at a rural property west of Brisbane on December 12, 2022.

They joined Gareth Train's wife Stacey, 45, to also fatally shoot 58-year-old neighbour Alan Dare.

The Arnold and McCrow families had wanted Queensland police to consider satellite based communications due to the radio "black spot" over rural areas such as Wieambilla, but Mr Ryan did not recommend this action.

It was time to get police radio black spots fixed, Mr Williams said.

"It is outrageous to me, in 2025 you can be out in a cruise ship 300 nautical miles from shore and get reliable internet, but you can't get reliable communications in a radio black spot in Queensland," he said.

Queensland police would reflect on Mr Ryan's findings and recommendations, a spokesperson said.

"Recognising the gravity of the events, Queensland police will take the time to carefully review and consider the findings thoughtfully and respectfully in their entirety," the spokesperson said.