The remote bushland property where two police officers were ambushed and killed could be used as a retreat or training centre if the Queensland government clears the way and ensures it never falls into the hands of conspiracy theorists.
Constables Matthew Arnold, 26 and Rachel McCrow, 29, died in a hail of gunfire after pulling up to the rural property at Wieambilla, three hours west of Brisbane, on Dec. 12.
Neighbour Alan Dare was also gunned down in the melee sparked when Gareth Train, his partner Stacey Train and brother Nathaniel Train opened fire upon their approach.
The officers were checking the property, owned by Gareth and Stacey Train, while conducting a missing persons check for Nathaniel Train.
The Queensland Police Union (QPU) said on Dec. 20 it wanted to buy the block and had asked the government for help resuming the land.
“The QPU would never want to see this land fall into the hands of any other anti-vaxxer, pro-gun conspiracy theorist, sovereign citizens who may seek to utilise the reputation of this site to promote their own dangerous and warped views,” union head Ian Leavers said in a statement.
“This site is one that we as police have a duty to protect, and we will ensure its future usage is both appropriate and sympathetic.”
Leavers hoped the land could be used as a retreat for officers, a training centre, and be the site of a memorial.
The government is reportedly considering the proposal.
A day earlier, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk paid her respects to the slain officers ahead of a public memorial at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Dec. 21.
“Everyone’s gone through a really rough time out here and I want all of Queensland and all of Australia to continue to show their support for the two young lives that were tragically taken,” she said.
“Wednesday is going to be a very difficult day.”
Some 8,000 people are expected to attend the memorial before family and friends farewell the constables at private ceremonies.
Members of the public are invited to attend the ceremony alongside family, friends, dignitaries and police officers. Free tickets were available from last night.
The service will be live-streamed online and on TV, and Queenslanders will be able to watch the event at a number of public venues around the state, including in communities near Wieambilla such as Tara, Dalby, and Chinchilla.
Investigators are probing the circumstances of the attack, which fellow officers Constables Keely Brough and her colleague Randall Kirk managed to escape.
After the initial ambush, the Trains were shot dead in a firefight with heavily armed tactical police officers.
Investigators are still to officially declare a motive but are probing links between the Trains and conspiracy groups online and their digital footprints.
