Three conspiracy theorists had shared delusions but did not carry out a terrorist act when they ambushed police in an attack that killed six people, a coroner says.
Almost three years after the Wieambilla shootings shocked the nation, Queensland state coroner Terry Ryan delivered his findings in Brisbane on Friday.
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 12 December 2022.
An inquest last year heard expert evidence that the Trains engaged in terrorism that was religiously motivated by their extreme Christian beliefs.
Ryan said he accepted the psychiatric expert evidence in regards to the Trains' motives, saying the trio suffered from a "shared delusional disorder".
"They were psychotically unwell and driven by their beliefs."
But Ryan said it was not possible to conclude the Trains committed a terrorist act under definition of the Commonwealth criminal code.
A Christian premillennialism faith in the end of times had become central to the Trains' belief system but it was underpinned by broad psychiatric issues.
"Their beliefs — although wrong — presented extreme danger to any police who attended their property," Ryan said.
"They believed the government was evil and that police officers were demons intent on killing them."
All three Trains were shot dead by specialist police officers hours later after refusing to negotiate or surrender.
Queensland's Special Emergency Response Team acted appropriately in their use of lethal force during a protracted shootout that lasted more than an hour, Ryan found.
"The Trains were intent on killing police officers and intent on dying rather than being taken into custody," Ryan said.
The Trains fortified their property and wanted to kill any police officer that entered rather than influence or intimidate the Queensland government, Ryan said.
Constables Arnold and McCrow had attended the property with fellow Constables Randall Kirk and Keely Brough on behalf of NSW police.
Nathaniel Train had been reported missing from his state primary school principal job in northern NSW.
Constables Kirk and Brough narrowly escaped being killed by the Trains.
NSW Police had not passed on the full information in their computer system to Queensland Police when requesting assistance, Ryan found.
"I accept evidence given by witnesses from NSW and Queensland that in policing, more information is always better," Ryan said.
"The Queensland officers would have the opportunity for a more complete risk assessment.
Judy McCrow (left), mother of Rachel McCrow and Sue Arnold (right), mother of Matthew Arnold, outside Brisbane Magistrate's Court on Friday. Source: AAP / Darren England
Ryan could not find that Queensland police would have conclusively done anything differently if they had more information from NSW police about Gareth Train's threatening behaviour and beliefs.
Ryan also recommended that Queensland police review an expanded use of drones for gathering information about remote properties.
He also called for Queensland to consider mandatory mental health assessments for people applying for firearms licences as at least some of the guns and ammunition used at Wieambilla were lawfully obtained.
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