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The Queensland Police Union may buy the regional property where two officers were ambushed and “executed” last week.
Constables Matthew Arnold, 26, and Rachel McCrow, 29, were shot dead by Nathaniel Train, his brother Gareth and sister-in-law Stacey at a Wiemballa property on Monday last week.
Union president Ian Leavers said he wants to secure the property as a “permanent place of solace and reflection” to honour the two young officers.
He said he has spoken with premier Annastacia Palaszczuk about the proposal.
“She has supported our idea for the land to be resumed so a meaningful memorial can be created, the families of Matt and Rachel are also backing our proposal,” Leavers said.
In the aftermath of Monday’s bloodshed, Train was linked to anti-authoritarian views in various writings found scattered online.
Leavers said in light of these links it is more important to secure the land so it doesn’t “fall into the wrong hands and become a beacon for evil”.
“I do not want this land to be used by anti vaxxer, pro-gun conspiracy theorists, or sovereign citizens to use the reputation of this site for their warped and dangerous ideologies,” he said.
“The QPU has an obligation to safeguard this property to honour the police and a good intentioned neighbour who lost their lives at this location.”
The union wants a memorial to be created at the Wieambilla site and has proposed the rest of the property be used as a retreat for serving and retired officers or a training facility.
The state’s police minister Mark Ryan supports the union’s proposal and said the government would consider what the land could be used for but it should host a memorial space.
“In my view, that ground is now sacred ground. That is where the lives of two heroes of Queensland were taken,” Ryan said.
“I can think of no better way to preserve that forever than a process around how that block might be owned by the government or police union.”
As the state and country grapples to come to terms with the violent attack on the officers, the federal government is considering how to prevent a mass shooting, particularly targeting the police force, from occurring again.
“My government will take any advice, particularly from police and law enforcement, about better ways in which we can have coordination and better laws to protect people,” Anthony Albanese said.
“I am certainly up for dialogue with the states and territories about how there can be a better national consistency and national information that can serve the interests of police going about their duty.”
Albanese said at the next meeting of national cabinet in the new year leaders will talk about preventative measures but the country’s gun laws will not be up for discussion.
Meanwhile, it is just one day before the memorial service for the fallen officers which is set to be the biggest Queensland has ever seen.
Starting at 10am (AEST) on Wednesday, more than 8000 people are expected to attend to pay their respects to the constables.
The ceremony will be livestreamed on Channel 9 for viewers in Queensland and 9news.com.au for viewers around the country.
Source: 9News
