Shooting inquest to examine police and gun law changes

A rifle used by Gareth Train (file image)
The inquest has been told the Trains had both registered and unregistered firearms. -PR Handout Image

A coroner investigating the shooting deaths of six people at a rural Queensland property is due to hear evidence of potential improvements to firearms laws and police procedures.

State Coroner Terry Ryan is scheduled to resume the Wieambilla shootings inquest at Brisbane on Wednesday after a seven-day break without hearings.

Police weapons licencing group Inspector Cameron Barwick is due to give evidence about opportunities to increase public safety via weapons legislation and licencing reforms. 

Brothers Nathaniel, 46, and Gareth Train, 47, used high-powered rifles to kill Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, at a remote property west of Brisbane, late in the afternoon of December 12, 2022.

Constables Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow were killed in an ambush. (HANDOUT/QUEENSLAND POLICE)

Nathaniel Train joined Gareth and his sibling's wife Stacey, 45, to fatally shoot neighbour Alan Dare, 58, soon after killing the two constables.

All three Trains were shot dead by specialist police officers hours later after they refused to negotiate or surrender.

Mr Ryan previously heard the Trains possessed both registered and unregistered firearms, including a rifle and shotgun with illegally shortened stocks and barrels. 

Nathaniel Train's Queensland firearms licence had been revoked due to him dumping several weapons while crossing over the NSW border.

Nathaniel Train's illegal entry into NSW during COVID-19 border lockdowns before the shootings led to a missing persons report and arrest warrant that the constables were attempting to execute at Wieambilla.

Deputy Commissioner Cheryl Scanlon and Ethical Standards Command Detective Inspector Jason Hindmarsh are due to testify about areas for organisational improvement identified during the police investigation into the shootings.

Mr Ryan previously heard the constables were ambushed in an area with known radio and mobile phone "black spots" and had not been given the full file on the Train family when asked to aid in a missing persons search by NSW Police.